QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1

Asian medical camp benefi ts Brahimi, Macedo shine in scores of low-income workers Rayyan’s win over Al Arabi published in QATAR since 1978

SATURDAY Vol. XXXX No. 11347 October 26, 2019 Safar 27, 1441 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Qatar takes part in Nato meeting In brief

ARAB WORLD | Unrest Anti-govt protests in Iraq leave dozens dead Renewed anti-government protests across Iraq left more than 40 people dead yesterday through tear gas, live rounds and fires, a watchdog and security sources said. The protests represent a second phase of a week-long movement in early October that ended with more than 150 people dead. Rallies had been set to resume yesterday, with a range of actors from Iraq’s highest Shia authority to the United Nations urging restraint. Qatar participated in the meeting of Nato countries with Operation Resolute Support Mission partner nations at the level of Page 4 defence ministers in Brussels yesterday. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah headed Qatar’s delegation to the meeting which dealt with supporting the peace process in Afghanistan. AMERICA | Emergency Qatar’s ambassador to Belgium and head of Qatar’s Mission to the EU and Nato, Abdulrahman bin Mohamed al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Doha Film Institute Chairperson HE Defence Attache in Belgium Brigadier Abdulhadi Mubarak al-Hajri, and several senior off icers in the armed forces attended the Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE the Deputy Prime Minister California wildfi res meeting. Page 2 and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and HE force evacuations Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani appreciating the concert. Firefighters yesterday battled several wildfires raging across California that destroyed homes and forced evacuations, as more than 18mn people were under a red flag warning in the southern part of the state. Some 50,000 Qatar hosts UN people were ordered to flee the Blockade measures flames near Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, as the so-called Tick Fire scorched 4,300 acres Day in New York (1,740 hectares) and was only 5% contained early yesterday. Page 5 atar’s Permanent Mission to Thawadi said: “On this United Nations contrary to NAM’s the United Nations yesterday Day, it’s important for us to recognise BRITAIN | Traffi cking Qhosted this year’s UN Day at and appreciate the importance of any the General Assembly Hall at the UN opportunity that has the power to unite Fresh arrests over 39 Headquarters in New York. people from diff erent walks of life. dead found in truck The event, delivered in collabora- “In 2022, the World Cup will bring British police investigating the tion with the support of the Supreme over a million visitors from every con- discovery of 39 bodies in a truck principles: Qatar Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), tinent to Qatar. More than half of the said yesterday they had arrested Brand Qatar, Doha Film Institute and world’s population will dedicate their three more people, as a security QNA actions by some countries that may risks, and to continue to co-ordinate the Government Communications passion and emotion to the tourna- source in Hanoi said some of the Baku lead to a violation of the UN Charter, the positions of member states in in- Offi ce – was titled ‘Building Prosper- ment. victims could be Vietnamese. The international law and human rights, ternational forums to achieve their in- ity for All Through Culture, Education, “It’s absolutely imperative that we horrific case has shocked Britain as well as the rejection of the use of terests and enhance their capabilities Gender Equality, Sports and Sustain- as global citizens, proponents of in- and turned the spotlight onto the atar has stressed that the il- coercive measures for political pur- in infl uencing decisions. ability.’ ternational co-operation and strength dangers of human traff icking. legal and unjustifi ed blockade poses in view of their negative impact Al-Muraikhi pointed out that Qatar HE the Deputy Prime Minister and through diversity and unity, recognise Police initially believed the victims Qagainst it constitutes a threat on the rule of law at the international has spared no eff ort to engage in any Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin and appreciate the need to ensure these were all Chinese nationals, but said and a breach of collective action, and level and on international relations, active participation in NAM events, Abdulrahman al-Thani and HE the moments aren’t remembered as missed yesterday that the “picture may there is no doubt that the unilateral stressing the non-recognition of pointing to Qatar’s hosting of the third Secretary-General of the SC Hassan al- opportunities.” change” on identification. Page 8 and coercive measures imposed by any unilateral measures, including ministerial meeting of the Movement’s Thawadi gave keynote speeches. In addition to al-Thawadi’s speech, the blockade states are contrary to the economic measures and arbitrary countries on the advancement of UN Secretary-General Antonio Gu- the SC was also represented by a SPORT | Football principles of the Non-Aligned Move- travel restrictions, and the need for women in 2012. terres, Doha Film Institute Chairperson number of US-based volunteers – ment (NAM). solidarity with the NAM states facing He explained that Qatar is engaged HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin who were among the 265,000 that Qatar team in fi nal of This came in a statement delivered such measures. in practical activities to develop col- Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar’s Permanent registered with the Community En- World Military Games by HE the Minister of State for For- He explained that out of Qatar’s lective co-operation and continues to Representative to the UN HE Sheikha gagement team’s programme earlier Qatar defeated North Korea eign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Mu- keenness on security, peace, and sta- develop friendly relations and bilat- Alya bint Ahmed al-Thani, HE Sheikh in 2019. 2-1 in the semi-finals of the raikhi during Qatar’s participation in bility in the region, it has called since eral co-operation with the Movement Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, and Attendees were also treated to a spe- football competition at the World the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned the beginning of the blockade, and countries in addition to the partner- other dignitaries were present. cial fi lm from Generation Amazing, Military Games in Wuhan, China, Movement held in Baku, Azerbaijan, still, to resolve this crisis through un- ship with them in international initia- Among the highlights of the event showcasing the SC’s sustainable devel- yesterday. Ali Awad Buglouf and yesterday. conditional dialogue based on mutual tives and issues of common interest. were a concert by the Qatar Philhar- opment goals video – such as its com- Meshaal Abdullah both scored Al-Muraikhi pointed to the con- respect. He pointed out that the world today monic Orchestra, conducted by award- mitment to delivering the fi rst carbon from the penalty spot for Qatar, tents of the political declaration is- HE the Minister affi rmed Qatar’s is witnessing challenges and risks of a winning composer Eimear Noone, and neutral FIFA World Cup and using the while North Korea’s only goal sued by the last ministerial meeting commitment to the principles and ob- transnational nature that impede the live performances by prominent Qatari power of football to reach over 1mn dis- was scored by Kong Chan. In of the Movement held in New York jectives of the Movement and its work achievement of peace and sustainable artists including Dana Alfardan, Aisha, advantaged children across the world tomorrow’s final, Qatar will face on September 24, 2019, where it re- to enhance the important role it plays development, and have repercussions Fahad al-Kubaisi and Hala al-Emadi. through the programme; among many Bahrain. (QNA) affirmed the rejection of unilateral in facing international challenges and aff ecting all countries. To Page 2 Addressing the gathering, HE al- others. To Page 3 16th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition gets underway

By Joey Aguilar dustry’s executive board member Ibti- and Positivity Couture displaying their International Fashion Scene in Paral- Staff Reporter haj al-Ahmadani, and attended by rep- unique collections. lelism to the Arabian Vogue’. resentatives from the Qatar National In collaboration with Narges Raiss, The fi ve-day exhibition is set to bring Tourism Council (QNTC), ambassa- contributing editor for Harper’s Ba- a series of events showcasing the latest ashion shows featuring the lat- dors, and other guests. zaar, Grazia Arabia and Esquire Qa- in Arabian and modest designs from est creations of local and inter- “We are delighted to once again part- tar, Halima Aden, known as the first more than 250 brands from around the Fnational designers, as well as a ner with Design Creationz to bring the hijab-wearing model, took part in the globe, as well as inspiring discussions number of talks, marked the opening 16th edition of Qatar’s pre-eminent ‘Celebrity Talk: Breaking boundaries, on the business of fashion, the latest of the 16th edition of Heya Arabian fashion event, the Heya Arabian Fash- a history of firsts’, sharing her jour- trends, beauty, textiles, and sustainable Fashion Exhibition yesterday at the ion Exhibition that showcases our rich ney to success and the rise of modest fashion. Doha Exhibition and Convention Cen- heritage and talent. We are thrilled to fashion on the international fashion “This is truly an exceptional plat- tre. The event will conclude on Octo- see such a large increase in the number scene. form that gathers all modest fashion ber 29. of local entrepreneurs participating in The opening day also hosted a talk, in lovers from around the globe under one The event, under the patronage this edition,” Jawaher al-Khuzaei from collaboration with Galleries Lafayette roof to showcase their creations and of Qatar Museums Chairperson HE QNTC said. head of buyers Jeannie Lee and Virginia to learn more about the latest trends Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin The fashion shows featured Debaj Ibtihaj al-Ahmadani off icially opens the 16th edition of Heya yesterday at DECC. She Commonwealth University School of in the industry,” said Tahani al-Otaibi, Khalifa al-Thani, was inaugurated by and Al Baccarat Fashion, as well as Malo was joined by Halima Aden – the first hijab-wearing model and other dignitaries. the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) chair fashion designer of her own line, Ta- Qatar Chamber of Commerce and In- Italy, Faggioli Atelier, Atelier C Firenze PICTURE: Jayan Orma of Fashion Christopher Fink on ‘The hani Al Otaibi. To Page 16 Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 26, 2019 QATAR

Shura Council Speaker meets Deputy PM meets Turkish defence minister governor, mayor of Al-Muraikhi meets foreign Turkish province minister of Nicaragua

HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud met yesterday with Turkey’s province of Rize Governor Kemal Ceber and Mayor Rahmi Metin, on the occasion of his participation in the first meeting of the executive council of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways of boosting them in addition to issues of common concern. Several members of the Shura Council and ambassador of Qatar to Turkey Salem bin Mubarak al- Shafi attended the meeting.

MME launches ‘Farm Your Country’ programme HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met with Turkish Minister of HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi Defence General Hulusi Akar, at Nato’s headquarters in Brussels yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and met with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada Colindres, on The Ministry of Municipality ways of enhancing them in various military fields. Also, the meeting touched on the latest developments in the region. the sidelines of the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held and Environment’s (MME) in the Azerbaijan capital Baku. During the meeting, they reviewed public parks department, in bilateral relations and issues of common concern. collaboration with Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF), held an event to introduce ‘Farm Your Country’ programme. The fourth edition of the A-G holds talks with UN Offi ce director-general Al-Muraikhi meets foreign programme was attended by a number of co-ordinators and minister of Lesotho supervisors of participating E the Attorney General and schools to introduce them to the Chairman of the Board of ‘Farm Your Country’ programme HTrustees of the Rule of Law and the mechanism and plan of and Anti-Corruption Centre (RO- the programme during the year. LACC) Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri In its fourth season this year, met yesterday with the director- 34 schools of various stages general of the United Nations Offi ce are participating. A number of at Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya, and a students with special needs number of her assistants. are also participating for the During the meeting, the Attorney first time. It is part of eff orts to General expressed his congratulations integrate this important segment to Valovaya on her new position, wishing of students in such community her success in her duties. programmes. The two sides also discussed pros- The MME, represented by pects for joint co-operation between the public parks department, ROLACC and the United Nations organises this event within the Offi ce on Rule of Law and Anti- 1mn trees project as part of Corruption issues. its keenness on the important The meeting was attended by the HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad role of agricultural projects in Permanent Representative of Qatar al-Muraikhi met with Lesotho Minister of Foreign Aff airs and environmental sustainability and to the United Nations Offi ce in Gene- International Relations Lesego Makgothi, on the sidelines of the development. (QNA) va Ali Khalfan al-Mansouri. (QNA) HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri during a meeting, 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in the Azerbai- jan capital Baku yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral co-operation relations and issues of common concern.

Minister of State meets Plan in place to remove president of ICRC roadside markets in Doha he Doha Municipality is all such unregulated street mar- Al Haraj, Doha Jadeed and Old strictly enforced on violators, month, called on the owners of putting in place a plan to kets and limit the spread of un- Al Ghanim. which has helped reduce the residential properties to strictly Tcurb the proliferation of licensed vendors, in Doha city He added that the elimination number of such cases. On the follow Law No 22 of 2019, which unregulated street vendors and in particular and throughout of such practices can only be re- other hand, work is currently prohibits workers’ camps within roadside markets at diff erent lo- the country in general as part of alised through collaboration be- going on to exempt some ar- family residential areas in Qatar. cations within its jurisdiction. a larger plan. This will be done tween all the parties concerned, eas of Doha from the ban on It had also announced that Speaking to local Arabic dai- through a number of commit- including the public. labourers’ accommodation any person who violates Law No ly Arrayah, Salim Hammoud tees, work teams and joint cam- Regarding the illegal sub-di- within residential areas in a way 8 of 2014, amending some pro- al-Shafi , director, municipal paigns to combat such undesired vision of some residential build- that would not have a negative visions of Law No 4 of 1985 on HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad control at the Doha Munici- phenomena, according to the ings in Doha, he said the munici- impact on the families living Organisation of Buildings, shall al-Muraikhi met with International Committee of the Red Cross pality, said the plan is being offi cial. pality has been able to eradicate there, he added. be penalised. “Division of resi- (ICRC) president Peter Maurer, on the sidelines of the 18th Summit implemented in co-operation Al-Shafi stressed that the around 85% of this phenomenon It could be recalled that dential properties, in any way, of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in the Azerbaijan capital Baku with the Ministry of Interior campaigns will lay special em- and complaints fi led against the Ministry of Municipality is deemed as legal off ence, in yesterday. During the meeting, they reviewed the joint declaration and Ministry of Commerce and phasis on areas that are known this practice have dropped by and Environment (MME) had, accordance with the provisions of intent between Qatar and the ICRC, which was recently signed Industry. to be prone to such phenomena, almost 95%. through announcements pub- of Law No 8 of 2014,” the MME in New York, as well as issues of common concern. The initiative aims to remove such as the Industrial Area, Souq He said the relevant law is lished in the local media late last stressed. 8 new shopping malls ‘Blockade contrary to NAM’s principles’ set for completion by ’20 From Page 1 threats for decades. ties for social and economic violations and atrocities. actively participating in inter- By Santhosh V Perumal Countrywide monthly rents He said that in light of the development. In all cases, the commitment national eff orts to combat ter- Business Reporter for medium line shops (between HE the Minister pointed out contemporary international He considered that these of all parties to international rorism in all its forms, in part- 100sq m and 250sqm) ranged that no country, whatever its changes and successive events, crises require the international humanitarian law and inter- nership with the UN and within from QR200-380per sqm. capabilities and resources, can the international community is community to strive to support national human rights law re- the framework of international atar is expected to see While, monthly asking rents tackle problems such as cli- in dire need to strengthen the peaceful solutions in accord- mains intolerable, and account- and regional arrangements in completion of as many for shops (26-36sqm) ranged mate change, epidemics, drugs, bonds of understanding and ance with international law to ability for abuses and atrocity this fi eld, to address the root Qas eight shopping malls from QR300-350 per sqm in traffi cking in persons, tran- rapprochement, stressing that achieve sustainable peace. crimes is a necessary condition causes of the emergence and with an estimated 548,000sqm newly released Al Waddan Mall snational organised crime and civilisational dialogue between The Palestinian issue, which for creating conditions for sus- spread of violent extremism GLA (gross leasable area) of or- (Mesaieed), it said. other global challenges, which peoples and nations is the best had been awaiting resolution tainable solutions, he stressed. leading to terrorism, and not to ganised retail space by 2020, The median monthly asking requires us to join eff orts to find way to realise this goal. for decades, should remain on HE the Minister stressed that link terrorism and extremism according to ValuStrat. rents among street retail units appropriate solutions to meet Al-Muraikhi said that NAM the NAM’s list of priorities until achieving peace, security and with religion or race or culture. At the end of third quarter (Q3) within Doha stood at QR192 per these challenges. is of particular importance as the Palestinian people attained sustainable stability requires HE the Minister explained 2019, the total supply of organised sqm, down by 1.5% quarter-on- HE al-Muraikhi said that that a platform for joint action, es- all their rights, he said, reiterat- spreading and promoting a cul- that, in parallel with the pro- retail space reached 1.89mn sqm, quarter. In Lusail, asking rents the summit is a renewed oppor- pecially since the pursuit of ing Qatar’s unwavering support ture of tolerance, accepting the motion of peace and security, with the newest addition of Al ranged from QR80-170 per sqm tunity for the NAM member- multilateralism was one of the for the Palestinian people in other and combating the rheto- the Movement member-states Waddan Mall (26,000sqm GLA) in for sizes 110-350sqm. states to reaffi rm their com- reasons for its establishment, their just struggle to obtain all ric of extremism and hatred. need to advance sustainable Mesaieed (Al Wakrah), The Gal- The median asking rents mitment to the principles and adding that the Movement is their legitimate rights, fi rst and Recognising the importance development and give prior- leria (44,000sqm GLA) and De- among street retail units outside purposes of the Movement, and still central to eff orts to promote foremost the establishment of of collective action in these ity to the achievement of the partment Store (15,000sqm GLA) Doha stood at QR172 per sqm, a way to enhance pluralism and the principle of multilateralism. a Palestinian state on the 1967 fi elds, Qatar has devoted many 2030 Agenda for Sustainable in Msheireb Downtown (Doha), it down by 4.4% quarterly. Rent- co-operation among member- He pointed out that on April borders with East Jerusalem as eff orts and initiatives to pro- Development, which required said in a report. free periods off ered ranged up to states to face challenges and 24, 2019, the world celebrated its capital, based on the resolu- mote interfaith and intercul- a holistic and human-centred Al Meera, Monoprix and LuLu 15 months (for contract periods achieve common goals based on for the fi rst time “International tions of international legitima- tural dialogue, combat violent approach, the pursuit of good Hypermarket announced the of up to four years). the principles of international Day of Multilateralism and Di- cy and the Arab Peace Initiative, extremism, provide educational governance, the rule of law, and launch of anchor stores at The Mall, On the performance of ware- law and the goals and objectives plomacy for Peace” as a result of and on the basis of a two-state opportunities and create em- the protection and promotion Galleria Msheireb Downtown and houses, ValuStrat said the av- of the Movement, and Charter the eff orts of the leaders of the solution and the end of the Is- ployment opportunities for of human rights. Doha Mall respectively, the report erage asking rents for dry/am- of the United Nations, includ- Movement, stressing the need raeli occupation of all the occu- young people, HE al-Muraikhi HE al-Muraikhi said that said, taking the saturation ratio of bient warehouses in Qatar fell ing the friendly relations be- for NAM to continue to pro- pied Arab territories. explained. this holistic approach forms shopping centres in Qatar to 677sq 7% year-on-year and remained tween states, resolving disputes mote the role of the United Na- He added that putting an He added that the work is the backbone of the policies m per 1,000 capita compared to the unchanged on a quarterly basis. by peaceful means, establishing tions and its reform to achieve end to the various protracted underway to establish a global adopted by Qatar at the nation- Gulf Co-operation Council average The rate of decline has notably a culture of peace, not using or its goals and objectives. crises in Syria, Yemen, and centre to apply behavioural vi- al level to achieve benefi t for of 615sq m per 1,000 capita. slowed since previous quarter, threatening force, and respect- HE al-Muraikhi pointed out Libya requires political solu- sions to violent extremism and all segments of society, adding ValuStrat said events such the report added. ing the sovereignty of states and that the Middle East is suff er- tions through comprehensive terrorism based in Doha, within that Qatar’s foreign develop- as ‘Summer in Qatar’ and Eid “The average asking rent for tem- not interfering in their internal ing from multiple crises that national peace processes un- the framework of the eff ective ment policy also seeks to sup- al-Adha, as well as outbound perature-controlled warehouses in- aff airs. have negatively aff ected mil- der the auspices of the UN, partnership between the State port developing countries in resident spending habits, con- tended for food and chemical stor- Al-Muraikhi pointed out lions of people in the region, stressing that no defi nitive so- of Qatar and the UN in the fi ght achieving their development tributed towards increased sales age fell by 3% quarter-on-quarter that multilateral action faces threatening entire generations lutions can be found militarily against terrorism. goals, especially those in special and footfall during the quarter. and 11% year-on-year,” it said. an unprecedented crisis and and destroying the opportuni- or by committing more mass He pointed out that Qatar is situations. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 3 QATAR Workshop focus on digital transformation for govt entities

The event is scheduled The workshop is ESCWA’s undersecretary for the Digital to be held on the fi rst in Qatar and is aimed at Society Development Sector at sidelines of Qitcom informing participants about MoTC, said: “We are delighted The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the Doha Film Institute chairperson HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the main concepts of digital to host this workshop, which HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, HE the Secretary-General of the Supreme he Qatar Digital Gov- transformation, its challenges, comes as part of our strategy Committee for Delivery & Legacy Hassan al-Thawadi, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN HE Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed al-Thani, HE ernment Training Pro- and potential socio-economic towards enhancing the capac- Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, and other dignitaries are seen at the UN yesterday. Tgramme (QDGTP), an impact. ity of IT professionals in Qatar, initiative of the Ministry of It will discuss best regional especially in the public sector. Transport and Communica- and international practices on “This workshop comes at tions (MoTC), is organising a implementing this transforma- an opportune time as Qa- workshop on digital transfor- tion, highlight key internation- tar is rapidly developing a mation for government enti- al and regional indicators, and knowledge-based diversi- Qatar hosts UN Day in New York ties. measure methodologies and fied economy in line with the In partnership with the UN mechanisms used to gauge the Qatar National Vision 2030, Economic and Social Commis- progress in digital transforma- contributing to its digital From Page 1 we hold in common united na- Day #UNDayQatar2019. A great & stability. We are honoured to sion for West Asia (ESCWA), tion. Other topics include new transformation goals. We be- tions”. The UNGA President: gathering of art, culture, sport, have been chosen to host today’s the workshop is scheduled to trends in digital transforma- lieve that participants will Later, UN Secretary-General “Thanks to @QatarAtUN for and education for sustain- #UNDay2019 in New York. @ take place on October 30 and 31 tion, such as open government gain valuable insights from Antonio Guterres and the UNGA bringing music to the #UNGA, able development and prosper- QatarAtUN #UNDayQatar2019. on the sidelines of Qitcom 2019, data, and technical and man- the event that will positively President Tijjani Muhammad- a place where we spend most of ity demonstrating Qatar’s strong “At the #UNDayQatar2019 slated from October 29 to No- agement aspects related to the impact the digital transfor- Bande tweeted in appreciation our days striving for harmony! support for the UN and #Glo- Concert, curated fi lms by @ vember 1 at the Qatar National development of digital govern- mation of Qatar.” of the 74th UN Day Concert, As we celebrate #UNDay and balGoals #BuildingProsperity DohaFilm played alongside per- Convention Centre under the ment transformation. The QDGTP is a strategic hosted by Qatar. approach the #UN75 I am heart- #UNDay”. formances by @qatar_phil & na- theme, ‘Safe Smart Cities’. One of the major highlights initiative developed by the The UN Secretary-General: ened that we remain committed The Government Commu- tional artists. #Qatar is proud to Participants will include of the two-day event will be MoTC to boost the profes- “Music is a universal language to the ideals of the founders of nications Offi ce (GCO) Qatar have showcased some of our fe- representatives from public en- the Artifi cial Intelligence (AI) sional capacity of government in the richness of its diversity. our organisation”. also tweeted: “A member of the male fi lmmakers who are leading tities concerned with the pro- Hackfest held in conjunction IT employees with special- Today’s #UNDay concert was Qatar’s Foreign Minister United Nations since 1971, #Qa- the way for the greater empow- vision of government services, with Microsoft. Participants ised and accredited training. an opportunity to remember our tweeted: “We are pleased to tar is fi rmly committed to the erment of women. @QatarA- including IT directors, manag- from seven government enti- The programme aims to build shared humanity and the values host the 74th United Nations @UN’s work in building peace tUN.” ers, and high-level positions ties will be presenting 10 use information and communi- from over 25 government enti- cases that they have worked on cation technology capability ties, as well as representatives before the event with the audi- in the government to achieve from national universities and ence voting to select the best improved service provision, research centres, the private ones. Prizes will be awarded on efficiency, and transparency sector, and ICT companies, the last day of the workshop. in line with the Qatar Digital QRCS launches second phase of among others. Reem al-Mansoori, assistant Government 2020 Strategy. education project in Afghanistan Qatar’s tourism sector is he representative mission of Qatar Red Crescent So- growing rapidly: ITUC offi cial Tciety (QRCS) in Afghani- stan has launched Phase 2 of a project to back education in re- By Ayman Adly transit visa facility, hosting of various languages have been mote areas. Staff Reporter various international sports trained and qualifi ed to pro- Materials and supplies have been events and conferences and mote the tourism potential of provided to establish nine schools in promoting the culture and her- the country, and there is a need educationally underserved areas in he tourism sector in Qa- itage of the country worldwide. for more, he observed. the provinces of Ghor and Oruzgan, tar is growing rapidly Al-Mohannadi said QNTC Al-Hammadi said the tour- QRCS has said in a statement. At a Tand creating potential has always actively worked ism industry is closely linked total cost of $324,000, the project is for more job opportunities with its partners to promote to the luxury services and hotel being implemented jointly by QRCS in the country, International tourism in the country, simul- sectors and added that this also and the Afghan Welfare Society for Trade Union Confederation taneously working on various required talented and quali- the benefi t of 1,800 students in (ITUC) deputy general secre- areas such as hosting interna- fi ed employees who should be total. Under the project, QRCS has tary Mamadou Diallo has said. tional sports events, confer- trained and retained to work in provided 70 tents to be used as class- Diallo moderated a panel dis- ences and business meetings. the country as long as possible, rooms, 900 double desks, 17,000 cussion on the future of work Besides, the council is keen to given the adequate incentives copies of curriculum books for basic in the tourism sector in Qatar, develop sectors such as land, provided to encourage them. education, 1,800 school bags and held as part of the recent cente- desert and marine tourism in She said Katara Hospitality in- sets, 500 teaching aids and nine con- nary celebrations of the Inter- addition to exploring the vast vests heavily in its employees tainers to be used for storage and as national Labour Organisation potential of the local culture with a big budget allocated to offices. (ILO) at Katara – the Culture and heritage. training them as this is consid- “Despite the recent improve- Off icials marking Phase 2 of the project. Village under the theme, ‘The “This required that we de- ered a top priority for the com- ments in Afghanistan’s education Future of Work in the State of vise new types of visa options pany. system, it remains among the worst destroyed or closed in insecure the statement added. al-Qurban, municipality head, Qatar’. in co-operation with the au- Qutub referred to the eff orts in the world due to many challeng- areas, leaving hundreds of thou- Farida Abdulsamad, a fi fth- said this aid would help meet The panel discussion was thorities concerned. Initially, of the SC to empower workers, es, such as limited access to educa- sands of students uneducated. grade student from the village of the basic needs of the area and attended by Ali al-Mohannadi we have focused on opening 10 maintain high health and safety tion, with 3mn school-age children, “The project complements Sheikh Al-Manad, Ghor prov- make a big diff erence, by pro- from the Qatar National Tour- new markets to attract tourists standards at the workplace and mostly female,” the statement not- government eff orts to meet the ince, said: “I am very happy. For viding education opportunities ism Council (QNTC); Salma from diff erent countries such to enforce ethical and transpar- ed. There are gaps in the number demand for education and create fi ve years, I have not received for girls. He thanked QRCS for Ahmed al-Hammadi from the as the UK, US, China, India ent standards for labour re- of schools, infrastructure, and a learning environment. It is in- education at all. This project will reaching out to this remote area legal department of Katara and others. In the next phase, cruitment throughout all 2022 water & sanitation services. spired by a belief that education is enable me to continue pursuing as the fi rst humanitarian organi- Hospitality; Mahmoud Qutub, we will focus on Scandinavian FIFA World FIFA Cup projects Hundreds of schools remain key to development and stability,” my education.” Abdulmo’men sation to off er educational aid. executive director of the Work- countries and the Australian in collaboration with the com- ers’ Welfare Department at the market,” he added. panies and contractors in- Supreme Committee for De- Al-Mohannadi stressed that volved at all levels. He reviewed HBKU professor livery & Legacy (SC), and Anna the tourism sector is promising the challenges encountered by Paolini, director of the Unesco and depends greatly on the hu- the committee and how it was elected to global body offi ce in Doha and Unesco rep- man factor, creating more jobs able to achieve success so far. A professor and associate dean HMC hosts International Medical resentative in the Arab States of in the market as an economi- Paolini appreciated the ef- at the College of Science and the Gulf and Yemen. cally benefi cial industry. forts and successes of Qatar in Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Diallo noted that the country It also requires highly quali- promoting its tourist profi le Khalifa Univer- Physics certifi cation board exams has taken various key steps and fi ed staff able to adequately and potential, providing jobs sity (HBKU) has initiatives to make the tour- deal with visitors from diff er- for an increasing number of been elected ism industry fl ourish, such as ent backgrounds and cultures. people in the fi eld and diversi- for a two-year amad Medical Corpo- the visa-free initiative for the Accordingly, 137 tourist guides fying the sources of income in term as the chair ration (HMC) hosted citizens of many countries, the from 42 countries speaking the local economy. of the Sensory Hthe three-part In- Systems Techni- ternational Medical Physics cal Committee at Certification Board (IMPCB) the Circuits and exams for the first time in the Systems Society (CAS), Institute Middle East. 1,675 abandoned vehicles removed of Electrical and Electronics Engi- These exams have attracted neers (IEEE). 45 candidates from different Dr Amine Bermak’s (pictured) countries including Mexico, appointment builds on his Ecuador, Pakistan, India, Af- prior active engagement with ghanistan, and others, which the world’s largest professional is the highest number of can- organisation for the advancement didates compared to other of technology. The CSE professor’s exams conducted previously involvement with the IEEE spans in Mexico and Chile. Dr Huda over a decade with him serving in al-Naemi, executive director various roles, including as distin- of Occupational Health and Forty-five candidates from around the world appeared for IMPCB guished lecturer and member of Safety Department, HMC, exams. the editorial board for a number of and president of Middle East prestigious IEEE journals such as Federation of Medical Physics requires permanent residency diation diagnosis, and nuclear IEEE Transactions on Biomedical (MEFOMP), said that 15 medi- in the US. A two-day medical medicine. The team of medi- Circuits and Systems, IEEE Trans- cal physicists of HMC took physics workshop was con- cal physicists at HMC per- actions on Electron Devices, IEEE the exam that concluded on ducted as continuous profes- forms several scientific tasks Sensors, and IEEE Transactions on Thursday. sional education for medi- aimed at improving quality in VLSI Systems. “It was an important op- cal staff. The examination is the field of medical diagnos- Al Rayyan’s Municipality general control department carried out 770 regular inspection campaigns For recognition of his outstanding portunity for them to obtain conducted by a team of seven tics and radiotherapy. in September. These resulted in the issuance of 528 violation reports, 117 of which were resolved research in sensors, Dr Bermak IMPCB in their field without IMPCB examining faculty se- The physicist’s work aims to through reconciliation on payment of the stipulated fines by the violators, the Ministry of was also elected as an IEEE Fellow, needing to travel outside Qa- lected by the Board Examina- protect radiation workers and Municipality and Environment said in a statement recently. Also, 425 reports were referred to the the highest distinction within IEEE. tar to complete the study and tion Committee. the public from overexposure relevant security authorities for necessary legal action. In addition, 711 warning noticed were placed As chair of the Sensory Systems exam. The competencies of medi- to radiation, as well as work on abandoned vehicles and portable cabins to remove them by their owners. Meanwhile, 1,675 Technical Committee, Dr Bermak She explained that applying cal physicists applying for the on the safety of patients from abandoned vehicles were removed from the sites where they had been parked, the statement will lead the development of the for the American Board Cer- exam varied in three areas: excessive or unexplained ex- noted, adding that fines collected during this period amounted to QR277,000. CAS in the area of sensors. tificate in this specialisation radiation therapy, medical ra- posures. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 26, 2019 ARAB WORLD/AFRICA

DIPLOMACY Moscow, Damascus Mnuchin to lead deploy forces to Syria-Turkey border five-nation trip to Mideast, India Damascus and Moscow deployed extra forces yesterday to Syria’s Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin border with Turkey, even as Wash- At least 25 killed as will lead a US delegation next ington partially reversed a draw- week on a five-country tour of the back to boost its own military pres- Middle East and India, off icials said ence near key Syrian oil fields. The yesterday. American off icials will use United States earlier this month the trip to increase pressure on Iran announced a pullout from Kurdish- and strengthen economic ties with held areas in northeast Syria, allies, the Treasury Department said allowing Damascus, Ankara and protests engulf Iraq in a statement, which confirmed Moscow to carve up the Kurds’ prior AFP reporting. Mnuchin will be now-defunct autonomous region. Protesters complain about accompanied by top Treasury of- Turkey and its Syrian proxies on corruption, hardship ficials and Jared Kushner, President October 9 launched a cross-border Donald Trump’s senior adviser and attack against Kurdish-held areas, Reuters son-in-law, in a trip that also will grabbing a 120-kilometre-long Baghdad include stops in Israel, India, Qatar swathe of Syrian land along the and two other countries. “We look frontier. The deadly incursion killed forward to engaging with our part- hundreds and caused 300,000 t least 25 protesters were ners across the Middle East and in people to flee their homes in the killed in Iraq yesterday India to confront Iran’s malign and latest humanitarian disaster in Syr- Awhen security forces destabilising influence,” Mnuchin ia’s brutal eight-year war. This week, used tear gas and a militia said in the statement. Turkey and Russia struck a deal opened fi re to try to quell re- in Sochi for more Kurdish forces newed demonstrations against VOTE to withdraw from the frontier on corruption and economic both sides of that Turkish-held area hardship, security sources said. Botswana’s under the supervision of Russian A government intelligence and Syrian forces. Before dawn offi cer and a member of the president Masisi yesterday, an AFP stringer saw powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq mi- wins election a convoy of hundreds of regime litia were killed in a clash with troops arriving in the border town protesters in the southern city Incumbent president Mokgweetsi of Kobane. of Amara, police sources said. Masisi yesterday won a five-year Dozens of soldiers sat atop a truck Nearly 1,800 people were term in Botswana’s elections touting guns and waving Syria’s injured nationwide, according which saw his ruling party secure two-star flag as they made their to medical sources, as dem- more than 51% of parliamentary way into town to a cacophony onstrators vented frustration votes, the chief justice said. of honking horns, he said. “One, at political elites they say have “Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe one, one, the Syrian people are failed to improve their lives af- Masisi is elected President of one,” they shouted. The Syrian ter years of confl ict. the Republic of Botswana,” chief Observatory for Human Rights, “All we want are four things: justice Terrence Rannowane a Britain-based monitor relying jobs, water, electricity, and announced. The main opposition on sources inside Syria, said 180 safety. That’s all we want,” said Demonstrators are seen during a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad, yesterday. protested the outcome, saying the vehicles had arrived in Kobane. 16-year-old Ali Mohamed who ballot had been “massively rigged.” Moscow, for its part, said 300 Rus- had covered his face with a T- sion said. At least fi ve of them fi ce just a year ago. Despite ing with security forces who recent weeks criticised the The Botswana Democratic Party sian military police had arrived in shirt to avoid inhaling tear gas, were protesters struck by tear promising reforms and order- launched tear gas canisters and government’s handling of the (BDP), which has ruled since in- Syria to help ensure Kurdish forces as chaotic scenes overwhelmed gas canisters, security sources ing a broad cabinet reshuffl e, stun grenades and were met by protests, urged calm on all sides dependence from Britain in 1966, withdraw to a line 30kms from Baghdad’s central Tahrir said. In the south, at least six he has so far struggled to ad- rocks thrown at their vehicles. during his sermon yesterday. In was declared the winner after the border in line with Tuesday’s Square. protesters were killed when dress the protesters’ discon- Young men carried the in- Baghdad, many demonstrators attaining the minimum 29 parlia- agreement. Near the town of Sirens wailed and tear gas members of the Asaib Ahl al- tent.Despite the Opec member jured away, as protesters set initially believed authorities mentary seats required to form a Qamishli, and AFP correspondent canisters landed amid groups Haq (AAH) militia opened fi re country’s vast oil wealth, many police cars on fi re. would refrain from violence government following Wednes- saw armoured cars flying Russian of young protesters draped in on protesters who tried to set Iraqis live in poverty, have An 8pm curfew was im- after security forces killed doz- day’s vote. flags head westwards from a Iraqi fl ags and chanting “with fi re to the group’s offi ce in the limited access to clean water, posed until further notice ens of protesters earlier this regime-held base on a third day life and blood we defend you city of Nasiriya, according to electricity, basic healthcare or in the southern provinces of month. of patrols. Iraq.” security sources. decent education as the coun- Basra, Muthanna, Wasit, Babel Hundreds tried throughout UNREST Under the Sochi deal, Kurdish The bloodshed is the sec- Eight people were killed in try tries to recover from years and Dhi Qar, after protesters the day to march into the city’s UN says will not forces have until late Tuesday to ond major bout of violence this Amara city, including six pro- of confl ict and economic hard- torched offi ces of lawmakers, fortifi ed Green Zone, which withdraw from border areas at ei- month. testers, one AAH member and ship. political parties and militia houses government buildings back any foreign ther end of the Turkish-held area, A series of clashes two weeks one intelligence offi cer, police Many Iraqis view the elite as headquarters. and foreign embassies, when role in DR Congo before joint Turkish-Russian start ago between protesters and sources said. subservient to one or other of How the government and they were stopped by security patrols in a 10-kilometre strip security forces left 157 people Three protesters were killed Iraq’s two main allies. security forces handled yes- forces. The UN yesterday ruled out there. Ankara eventually wants to dead and over 6,000 wounded. in oil-rich Basra and one in Sa- Many suspect these powers terday’s planned protests had By afternoon, the mood giving any support to countries set up a so-called “safe zone” on The unrest has broken nearly mawa, security sources said. use Iraq to pursue their strug- been seen as a litmus test for had shifted with thousands of neighbouring DR Congo if they Syrian soil along the entire length two years of relative stability in Interior Ministry spokesman gle for regional infl uence via the stability of the country angry protesters wrapped in intervene militarily in the east of of its 440-kilometre border, Iraq, which lived through for- Khalid al-Muhanna said at proxies unconcerned with or- with political leaders already Iraqi fl ags under pouring rain, the country, which is plagued by including to resettle some of the eign occupation, civil war and least 68 members of the secu- dinary people’s needs. on edge. chanting that they were peace- militia violence. The prospect of 3.6mn Syrian refugees currently an Islamic State (IS) insurgency rity forces were injured. “They hit us last night and In a Thursday night address, ful and calling political leaders joint military intervention by DR in Turkey. The Kurdish-led Syrian between 2003 and 2017. The sometimes violent again this morning. We don’t Abdul Mahdi stressed that vio- corrupt. As clashes broke out, Congo and its neighbours has Democratic Forces (SDF) has It is the biggest challenge to demonstrations erupted in have any demands anymore, lence would not be tolerated tuk-tuks carried the injured to surfaced in the light of a meeting made clear it objected to some security since IS was declared Baghdad on Oct 1 and spread to we want the government top- and warned that any collapse hospitals. of senior military off icials from five provisions of the Sochi agree- beaten. southern cities. pled,” said demonstrator Salah of the government would drag Medical sources told Reuters Great Lakes nations. According to ment and it has so far maintained Yesterday, eight protest- They pose the biggest chal- Mohamed. Iraq into further turmoil. hundreds of people had been a letter seen by AFP, the DRC has several border positions. ers were killed in Baghdad, the lenge to Prime Minister Adel In Basra, Reuters foot- Iraq’s top cleric, Grand Aya- treated for injuries, most re- been floating joint military opera- Iraqi Human Rights Commis- Abdul Mahdi since he took of- age showed protesters clash- tollah Ali al-Sistani, who in lated to tear gas exposure. tions to “eradicate armed groups.” But Leila Zerrougui, the head of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said the organisation could not lend support for foreign forces Tensions rattle Lebanon anti-graft agitation intervening in the country. DISTRESS

AFP lapse” of the economy. correspondent said. Before they war. After initially welcoming Nearly 29 dead Beirut “We do not support the res- retreated, Hezbollah backers the protests as spontaneous, ignation of the government,” he threw rocks, plastics bottles and Nasrallah yesterday insinuated in Kenya floods said in a televised speech, Leba- branches at the other demon- that the protesters were being ensions rattled Lebanon’s non’s national fl ag — instead of strators, who responded in kind manipulated. At least 29 people have been killed nine-day protest move- his party’s colours — positioned chanting “Revolution”. Numbers have declined since in Kenya due to floods caused by Tment yesterday, with a behind him. After night fell in the north- Sunday, when hundreds of heavy rains over the last three weeks, powerful leader seeking to dif- Hezbollah is a major political ern city of Tripoli, hundreds thousands took over Beirut and authorities said, QNA reported. fuse them by calling his sup- player in Lebanon and with its held up their mobile phones other cities in the largest dem- Almost 12,000 people have been porters away from the streets. allies holds the majority in the with their lights on, waving onstrations in years, but could displaced due to flooding, which has The demonstrators — who cabinet. them as if at a concert. grow again over the weekend. particularly aff ected the north and have thronged towns and cit- Nasrallah also called on his Among them, 33-year-old Lebanon’s largely sectar- east of Kenya, government spokes- ies across Lebanon — have been partisans to leave the streets af- engineer Bilal Hussein said he ian political parties have been man Cyrus Oguna said in statement. demanding the removal of the ter scuffl es broke out in Beirut was not surprised Nasrallah wrong-footed by the cross- The floods have also dealt a blow to entire political class, accusing between them and other anti- Supporters of the Hezbollah movement drive in a convoy in wanted the current cabinet to communal nature of the largely key sectors of the country’s economy, many across diff erent parties of graft protesters. support of its leader Hassan Nasrallah’s speech, in the southern stay put. peaceful protests. such as agriculture. Oguna said that systematic corruption. Unprecedented protests have suburbs of Beirut, yesterday. “We realise that Nasrallah is Waving Lebanese fl ags rather 10,000 livestock animals have died in The chief of powerful move- erupted in some Hezbollah the one controlling Lebanon,” than the partisan colours nor- the flooding. The East African country ment Hezbollah, Hassan strongholds, but a number of In the capital’s main square, As it neared its end, the po- he said mally paraded at demonstra- is experiencing the second of its two Nasrallah,yesterday warned its supporters have also taken protesters fell silent to listen to lice moved in to separate Hez- The Hezbollah, is the only tions, protesters have been de- annual rainy seasons, but the rainfall that any cabinet resignation off ence to slogans against their Nasrallah’s speech broadcast on bollah supporters from the rest movement not to have disarmed manding the resignation of all in October has been above average would lead to “chaos and col- leader. loudspeakers. of the demonstrators, an AFP after Lebanon’s 15-year civil of Lebanon’s political leaders. in most parts of Kenya.

Zimbabwe’s president says Western sanctions eating at economy

Reuters to exit its deepest crisis in a dec- Auxillia and bussed from across on a useless march,” said moth- US ambassador Brian Nichols Harare ade. Mnangagwa, like Mugabe, Zimbabwe marched for 5km to er-of-three Catherine Chihota, wrote an article in a private blames the sanctions imposed the stadium. selling fruit at a street corner. newspaper on Thursday saying by the United States and Euro- Singing and dancing, they The EU and United States im- “the greatest sanctions on Zim- imbabwe’s President Em- pean Union since 2001 for the waved placards inscribed “No posed fi nancial and travel bans babwe are the limitations that merson Mnangagwa yes- economic ills and says they are sanctions, no discrimination, on ZANU-PF and top military the country places on itself”. He Zterday described Western intended to remove his party sanctions new version of slav- fi gures for alleged human rights said the United States remained sanctions as a “cancer” sapping from power. ery,” and “Enough is enough, re- abuses and electoral fraud. the biggest donor to Zimba- the economy, and his supporters “Every part and sector of our move sanctions now.” The government says the bwe but corruption and lack of denounced the measures during economy has been aff ected by “We have no jobs because of measures are punishment for its reform had dragged down the marches held around the coun- these sanctions like a cancer,” the sanctions. America wants to seizures of white-owned farms. economy. try. Mnangagwa told a sparse crowd remove ZANU-PF from power ZANU-PF supporters con- The EU keeps some sanctions In Harare, many stayed away in Harare’s 60,000-seater na- through sanctions but we will demn the sanctions while the in place, but in June it began from the demonstrations, say- tional stadium. “Enough is defend the party and our presi- main opposition Movement for talks with Harare meant to move ing they were a distraction from enough, remove them. Remove dent,” said 32-year-old Martin Democratic Change says they on from the Mugabe era. the president’s mishandling of these sanctions now!” Mafusire. are not the cause of the country’s Harare says the US sanctions the economy, which is plagued The poor attendance showed Similar marches were held economic crisis. have been the most devastating. by 18-hour daily power cuts and the diffi culties that Mnangagwa throughout Zimbabwe after The regional Southern African These bar US offi cials at the In- shortages of foreign exchange, faces in mobilising party mem- Mnangagwa declared yesterday Development Community has ternational Monetary Fund and fuel and medicines. bers still divided between Mu- a public holiday. rallied behind Zimbabwe’s call World Bank from voting for debt Mnangagwa has so far failed gabe’s supporters and those who But in downtown Harare, for an end to sanctions. relief or fresh lending for Zimba- to unify the country since taking ousted him. many people went about their While the government ran bwe. over from the late Robert Mu- The rift was exposed by a daily business selling everything documentaries and articles In March, President Donald gabe, who was ousted in a coup bruising dispute over the former from fruit to cellphones. “It is in the offi cial press criticising Trump extended by one year in 2017. leader’s funeral. Mnangagwa who has to go be- sanctions, the US and EU em- sanctions against 141 entities Hopes of a swift recovery have Earlier, government support- cause he has failed. bassies took to social media to and individuals in Zimbabwe, Government supporters chant slogans as they march against faded as the economy struggles ers led by Mnangagwa’s wife I can’t leave my station to go rebut the offi cial narrative. including Mnangagwa. Western sanctions at a rally in Harare, yesterday. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 5 AMERICAS

Russian convicted of spying Justice Dept opens probe released

AFP Washington into Russia investigation

AFP Trump’s 2016 election team. dent with a political narrative for to infl uence the election. the Russian ambassador to the A series of witnesses have aria Butina, the Russian Washington Trump’s Republican allies the next election, the rule of law US intelligence chiefs, and the US before Trump took offi ce. supported a whistleblower’s al- gun advocate who built said the inquiry could shore up will suff er new and irreparable nearly two-year Mueller inves- Papadopoulos and Flynn legations that between April Ma network of high-level the president’s longstanding damage.” tigation, concluded that Rus- pleaded guilty single counts of and September Trump sought Republican contacts before be- emocrats have accused claim that the Mueller investi- The White House said the Jus- sia, through hacking and social lying to investigators and admit- to force Ukraine President Vo- ing arrested for spying, was freed President Donald Trump gation was a “witch hunt” based tice Department probe aims at media manipulation, sought to ted their contacts with Russians. lodymyr Zelenskiy to open from US prison yesterday after Dof using the US Justice on “fake news”. transparency. push the election in Trump’s fa- Both, however, are now seek- corruption investigations into serving nine months, the Bureau Department as a political tool But Democrats said it was a “The point of the investiga- vour while damaging his Demo- ing to reverse their convictions, Trump’s possible 2020 rival of Prisons said. after it opened a criminal probe clear eff ort by Trump-allied At- tion is to make sure the DoJ and cratic opponent Hillary Clinton. alleging Federal Bureau of In- Joe Biden, and into a debunked Butina was handed over to into its own handling of the in- torney-General Bill Barr to shift FBI under the Obama admin- Earlier this year Mueller con- vestigation (FBI) and Justice De- conspiracy theory circulated on the Immigration and Customs vestigation into Russian inter- attention from the congression- istration in 2016 wasn’t being cluded his investigation with a partment malfeasance. fringe right-wing websites that Enforcement Bureau and was ference in the 2016 election. al impeachment probe as it ac- used as a tool to infl uence the report showing dozens of con- Marcy Wheeler, an independ- Ukraine assisted the Democrats expected to be deported back to News of the inquiry, which cumulates strong evidence that elections,” said Trump adviser tacts between the Trump cam- ent journalist who has studied in 2016. Russia, where she has been cel- suggested wrongdoing by jus- Trump abused his offi ce in pres- Kellyanne Conway on Fox News. paign and Russians, and dem- deeply the Russia investigation, The witnesses have de- ebrated by the government as tice offi cials in the previous ad- suring Ukraine to help his 2020 “Don’t we have a right to know onstrating that the campaign said Durham could be honing in scribed Trump holding back a victim of unjust, politically- ministration of Barack Obama, re-election campaign, violating if ... they were or were not sub- actively sought dirt on Clinton on procedural errors or leaks in nearly $400mn in military aid motivated charges in the United leaked late on Thursday as the US election law. verting justice and trying to in- from Moscow. the early days of the probe. to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskiy States. White House struggled to push The latest inquiry raises “pro- terfere with the elections?” Mueller ruled that those ac- “There may be real crimes to act, and Democrats say that The only Russian arrested back against a Democratic-led found new concerns that the The Justice Department did tivities did not rise to the level of he’s investigating, or reconsid- would support charges of abuse and convicted in the three-year impeachment investigation tar- Department of Justice under not respond to requests for com- a criminal conspiracy. ering past charging decisions, of power by the president. investigation of Moscow’s in- geting the Republican president. Attorney-General William Barr ment. Durham is believed to be ex- especially leaks,” Wheeler wrote Democrats are expected to terference in US politics, Butina The inquiry could further has lost its independence and The criminal inquiry has amining the roots of the probe, yesterday. “But at least thus far, bring articles of impeachment parlayed ties with the National muddy the political waters in become a vehicle for President grown out of an initial internal which initially focused on cam- Durham has spent six months against the president before the Rifl e Association (NRA) fi rearms Washington, raising questions Trump’s political revenge”, said probe led by federal prosecutor paign adviser George Papa- without corroborating the main end of the year, which would al- lobby into a network of high- about the now-ended Russia in- senior House Democrats Jerry John Durham, the US attorney dopoulos, who had suspect con- conspiracy theories about the most certainly be voted through level Republican allies. vestigation led by Special Coun- Nadler and Adam Schiff in a for Connecticut, into the be- tacts with Russians. investigation.” by the Democrat-dominated That network brought her into sel Robert Mueller that saw 34 statement. ginnings of the 2016 investiga- Durham is also said to be fo- The investigation comes as House. contact with President Donald individuals and three compa- “If the Department of Justice tion into whether members of cusing on Trump’s national se- Trump and his Republican allies Trump would then go on trial Trump before his 2016 election, nies indicted, and eight convic- may be used as a tool of political Trump’s campaign colluded curity adviser Michael Flynn, in Congress seek to stifl e the im- for removal in the Republican- as well as with one of his sons. tions including top members of retribution or to help the presi- with Moscow’s sweeping eff ort who held secret phone calls with peachment probe. controlled Senate. The 30-year-old native of Siberia said she was on a quest to establish better relations be- Comedian booed tween Russia and the United States, and enrolled in university after confronting in Washington while living with California fi res force more than 40,000 to fl ee Weinstein: reports a Republican operative. She attended political rallies A female comedian was booed and NRA conventions, often Reuters rupt holding company PG&E and two women asked to with her Moscow sponsor Alex- Geyserville, California Corp, said in an “electric safety leave after protesting Harvey ander Torshin, a politician close incident” report to the Califor- Weinstein’s presence at an event to President Vladimir Putin. nia Public Utilities Commission for young actors in New York, Her social media was full of alifornia fi refi ghters that one of its power lines mal- reports said. pictures of her posing with vari- sought yesterday to functioned at about the time The disgraced Hollywood mogul ous fi rearms around the United Ctake advantage of a brief and in the location of the fi re’s is currently awaiting trial on States, in some dressed in camo lull in high winds behind fast- origin on Wednesday night. charges of sexual assault and has with an assault rifl e and, in one, moving wildfi res that forced PG&E shares were down pleaded not guilty. as a cowgirl with a giant six- the evacuation of more than about 26% in morning trade on Comedian Kelly Bachman, 27, shooter. 40,000 residents north of Los concerns about its potential li- was performing on Wednesday And she had her picture taken Angeles and another 2,000 in ability. night in the “Actor’s Hour” at a with some of the country’s con- the state’s wine country. Neither PG&E nor the com- bar in lower Manhattan where servative elite: NRA head Wayne With winds abating, crews mission said whether the dam- Weinstein was in attendance, LaPierre, senator Rick Santo- worked overnight to bat- aged tower or the malfunction- according to BuzzFeed News. rum, Wisconsin Governor Scott tle a newly-started fi re about ing transmission line attached In a video posted on her walker, and President Donald 40 miles (64km) north of Los to it were suspected of igniting Instagram account, she referred Trump’s son Don Jr. Angeles that was threatening the blaze, which has destroyed to the 67-year-old producer But she was arrested in July 10,000 homes and businesses, about a dozen homes and other as “Freddy Krueger” and “the 2018 on allegations she was en- the Los Angeles County Fire structures. elephant in the room” during her gaging in espionage, though she Department said. The California Department set. had no connection with Russia’s Offi cials warned residents of Forestry and Fire Protection “I didn’t realise I needed to bring established spy agencies. not to be deceived by the over- (Cal Fire) said it is investigat- my own mace and rape whistle In December, Butina entered night lull, as the National ing. to Actor’s Hour,” Bachman said in a plea deal on a charge that she Weather Service (NWS) fore- It listed the same place and the video, adding, when she was acted as an illegal, unregistered cast a pick-up in hot, dry winds time of origin for the fi re as booed, “sorry, that killed at group foreign agent, and was sen- with gusts of 45 to 55mph (72 to the tower incident reported by therapy for rape survivors”. tenced to 18 months in prison, 89kph) and temperatures above PG&E. Actor Zoe Stuckless, 21, and half of which was credited as al- 90° Fahrenheit (32° Celsius). By early yesterday, the Kin- comedian Amber Rollo, 31, ready served. “Let’s not let our guard cade fi re had scorched about separately also condemned The Russian foreign ministry down,” said Los Angeles Coun- 16,000 acres and forced some Weinstein’s actions before being made her into a cause celebre, ty supervisor Kathryn Barger. 2,000 people to fl ee their asked to leave, according to placing a picture of her with the She told a press conference homes, the Cal Fire agency said. social media posts by the women. word “Free Butina” at the top of that 40,000 to 50,000 residents No injuries have been report- After witnessing Stuckless’s its social media pages. had been forced from homes by ed and only 800 acres had been actions, Rollo told Weinstein: There was no immediate com- late on Thursday with “numer- contained, it said. “You’re a (expletive) monster. ment from Butina or her lawyer, ous” structures destroyed. Mandatory evacuations be- What are you doing out here?” but Russian media said she was California’s wildfi res gener- gan with the 900 residents of The comedian was escorted expected back as early as today. ally erupt in the fall as hot, dry A wind-driven wildfire burns in Canyon Country, north of Los Angeles. historic Geyserville on Thurs- outside by a woman with the Even with her release, her case Santa Ana winds blow west- day, and continued climbing to producer, US media reports remained murky. ward from the desert after a dry Thursday, the county fi re de- 200,000 homes and businesses portions of 18 counties shut off , 2,000 across Sonoma County said, and the bar confirmed in a US prosecutors watered down summer. partment said. intentionally left in the dark and it expected to have the rest through the day, the county Facebook post that a “heckler” early allegations that she was an Last year, at least 85 people Another burst of high winds because of risk of high winds reconnected by the end of the sheriff ’s offi ce said. had been asked to leave. operative of Russia’s intelligence died in one of the deadliest such was expected over the weekend, downing electrical lines. day. Geyserville and nearby Weinstein’s publicist said he was agencies, and described her only fi res, known as the Camp Fire in said Marc Chenard, a meteorol- Power had been shut off to While the cause of the worst Healdsburg, part of which was out with friends, and “trying to as funded by senior politician Butte County. ogist with the NWS’s Weather residents from the Sierra Foot- of the blazes, the Kincade Fire under an evacuation warning, find some solace in his life that Torshin. The so-called Tick Fire, Prediction Centre in College hills to the North Bay and San in Sonoma County, has not are hubs of upscale restau- has been turned upside down”. But they maintained that she which began on Thursday af- Park, Maryland. Mateo and Kern counties. been determined, it appears to rants, wine-tasting rooms, inns Weinstein has been accused had a mission to infi ltrate US po- ternoon just outside the city of To the north, where fi refi ght- But by early yesterday, Pacif- have erupted near the base of a and shops surrounded by hills of inappropriate behaviour by litical circles in an operation to Santa Clarita, had consumed ers were battling a smattering ic Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) damaged high-voltage trans- dotted with vineyards about more than 80 women, and was “spot and assess” potential es- about 4,000 acres and was of blazes, crews had restored said it restored power to most mission tower owned by PG&E. 75 miles (120km) north of San a catalyst for America’s #MeToo pionage targets. only 5% contained as of late on power to most of the nearly of its 178,000 customers in The company, a unit of bank- Francisco. movement last year. Thunberg leads rally in Vancouver Young Canadians sue govt Reuters Beetle species named to honour teen climate activist Vancouver Reuters The Charter is part of the Canadian with Greta Thunberg’s “Fridays for the A tiny species of beetle has been named in honour of teen climate activist Greta Vancouver Constitution. Future” movement, but he felt protest- Thunberg, the Natural History Museum of London said yesterday. The statement of claim fi led in a fed- ing corporations and lobbying politicians een climate activist Greta Nelloptodes gretae belongs to a family of beetles called Ptiliidae. eral court in Vancouver yesterday by the was not eff ective enough. Thunberg was due to address a The beetles are – unlike Greta Thunberg – not well known. The pale yellow and group of young Canadians fi led plaintiff s alleges that “despite know- “It was still depending on them to do Trally in Vancouver, British Co- gold-coloured beetles are often found in leaf litter and soil, feeding on fungal documents yesterday to sue the ing for decades” that carbon emissions the actions,” he said. lumbia, yesterday in the latest leg of hyphae and spores, and are distributed across the globe. Afederal government for injuries “cause climate change and dispropor- If the lawsuit is successful, the gov- her global campaign to spark action “The family that I work on are some of the smallest known free-living creatures,” allegedly suff ered due to Ottawa’s role in tionately harm children”, the government ernment will have to act “by order of the to tackle rising carbon emissions. said Michael Darby, underlining that he had not named the species after Thunberg contributing to climate change. continued to allow emissions to increase court, rather than listen to some youth The 16-year-old Swede has been “because it is small, it’s just that this is the group that I work on”. The 15 youths aged 10 to 19 from across at a level “incompatible with a stable that are telling them it’s the best way to touring North America after ad- the country have each suff ered “specifi c, climate capable of sustaining human life go”. dressing the United Nations Climate individualised injuries due to climate and liberties”. Reinhart-Smith and the other plain- Action Summit last month, where show our government that we are un- been delayed by repeated court chal- change”, Our Children’s Trust, a US- It specifi cally cites the government’s tiff s are represented by Arvay Finlay LLP she denounced world leaders in a stoppable and a better world is pos- lenges. based non-profi t group, said in a press purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline, and Tollefson Law Corporation, and have passionate speech for being slow to sible!” organisers Sustainabiliteens “Climate leaders do not build or release. which carries oil from Alberta to British partnered with the Pacifi c Centre for En- fi ght global warming. Vancouver wrote on their Facebook invest in pipelines that not only stand The group is providing technical sup- Columbia’s coast, as an action that con- vironmental Law and Litigation and the This week, Prime Minister Jus- page. to have devastating environmental port to the plaintiff s, as it has done in tributed to climate change. David Suzuki Foundation. tin Trudeau’s Liberals won the most The NDP are also opposed to the repercussions but undermine Indig- similar cases in other countries in which “As a youth my rights are being dispro- In the United States, 21 activists aged 11 seats in Canadian federal election but Trans Mountain pipeline expansion enous title and rights, Trudeau has children have sued their governments portionately violated because I cannot to 22 sued the federal government in 2015 lost the parliamentary majority. project, which would nearly triple the taken a contrary path,” said Kukpi7 because of climate change – including vote,” Ira Reinhart-Smith, 15, from Cal- for violating their rights to due process Trudeau needs support from other fl ow of crude from Alberta’s oil sands Judy Wilson, secretary-treasurer of the Netherlands, the United States, and edonia, Nova Scotia, told Reuters. “I am under the US Constitution by failing to parties to govern, most likely the to the Port of Vancouver for export to the Union of British Columbia In- India. now and in the future going to be faced adequately address carbon pollution such left-leaning New Democrats (NDP), refi neries abroad. dian Chiefs, which will be marching The Canadian plaintiff s are suing un- with extreme consequences because of as emissions from burning of fossil fuels. who want aggressive cuts in carbon Trudeau’s government bought the alongside Thunberg. der section 7 of the Canadian Charter of climate change. This lawsuit is the best Both the Obama and Trump adminis- emissions cuts and greater urgency in pipeline in 2018 for C$4.5bn to help Protesters will assemble in down- Rights and Freedoms, which protects in- way for me to move forward in my action trations have failed in their eff orts to have fi ghting climate change. it get built, but the project has been town Vancouver in the morning for dividual autonomy and personal rights, against climate change.” the lawsuit thrown out, and it is currently “With this being our fi rst strike fi ercely opposed by environmental a hour-long march through the city as well as section 15, which guarantees Reinhart-Smith has participated in under consideration in a federal appeals post-election, we need numbers to and indigenous activists, and has centre followed by a rally. equality rights. climate activism in the past, including court in Oregon. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 26, 2019 ASIA

Nepal arrests rapper for ‘vulgar language’

Police in Nepal have arrested an up- and-coming rapper for using “vulgar Boeing design fl aw a factor language” in a song, authorities said yesterday, in the latest incident to spark fears over free speech in the Himalayan nation. Several journalists, artists and regular citizens have been arrested for online postings or for in Lion Air crash: probe expressing their political beliefs since the ruling communist party AFP ing in an “egregious” manner. the problem is the design,” said won power in 2017. Jakarta Yesterday, Boeing expressed Jakarta-based aviation analyst Samir Ghising, known as VTEN, “heartfelt condolences” to vic- Gerry Soejatman. “has been arrested for using tims’ families, and said it had “The MCAS was created to be vulgar languages in his song, design fl aw, inadequate since fi xed the fl ight-control able to react based on a single which is unacceptable for our pilot training and poor system’s software. input only, via one computer, society,” Sahakul Thapa, a senior Afl ight crew perform- “These software changes will (and) there was no cross-check- police off icer, said. ance contributed to a Boeing jet prevent the fl ight control con- ing system to confi rm whether His song Hami yestai ta ho ni bro crashing in Indonesia last year, ditions that occurred in this or not the input was accurate. (“We are just like this bro”), has killing all 189 people on board, accident from ever happen- That’s the issue.” been viewed more than 19mn investigators said yesterday, in ing again,” Boeing CEO Dennis Lion Air, Southeast Asia’s times on YouTube since it was what one aviation analyst called Muilenburg said in a statement. biggest carrier by fl eet size, said uploaded in June but was taken a “damning” report. NTSC chairman Soerjanto the report was “essential to de- down after his arrest on Thursday. The Lion Air disaster was fol- Tjahjono told reporters that all termine the root cause and con- The lyrics contain several swear lowed months later by a second the factors it highlighted were tributing factors to the accident words, use a slang term for the crash – involving the same mod- “interrelated” in explaining and take immediate corrective police and speak about smoking el of aircraft – when an Ethio- why the crash happened. actions”. marijuana, which is illegal in Nepal. pian Airlines plane went down But aviation analysts said The FAA said it the ground- Thapa said Ghising had also with 157 people aboard, lead- much of the blame traces back ed single-aisle jet would only posted a picture on Facebook in ing to the global grounding of Air accident investigator Nurcahyo Utomo holds a plane model during a news conference to release the to Boeing. return to service only after it which he wore a police uniform Boeing’s entire 737 MAX fl eet. final report to the Lion Air flight JT 610 crash in Jakarta yesterday. “What the Indonesians have determined the model is safe. without authorisation. The crashes threw a spotlight written here is damning,” said After receiving a briefi ng on The 22-year-old rapper could on the MAX model’s Manoeu- to a single sensor that it relied said, after the plane’s previous Yesterday’s report comes af- Stephen Wright, professor of the report this week ahead of face up to a year in jail or a fine of vring Characteristics Augmen- on for inputs, and 737 MAX pi- fl ight also experienced loss-of- ter Boeing – facing scores of aircraft systems at Finland’s its public release, some of the 10,000 rupees ($90) or both. tation System (MCAS), an an- lots were not properly briefed control problems. lawsuits – replaced the chief of Tampere University. victims’ relatives expressed Popular rapper Manas Ghale ti-stall mechanism, that pilots on how to handle a malfunc- The emergency was not “ef- its commercial plane division “(Lion staff ) were doing their disappointment. said it was not justifiable and in both planes had struggled tion, it said in its fi nal report on fectively managed” by the crew, this week, the most signifi cant job based on the information “However, we’ve got no discouraged artists from pursuing to control as the jets careered the crash. who had previous performance executive departure since the that they’ve been given ... Eve- choice but to accept the report,” their talent. downwards. “The aircraft fl ight manual issues, it added. 737 MAX grounding plunged it rything points back to the man- said Epi Syamsul Qomar, who “It is not the police’s job to judge Yesterday, Indonesia’s Na- and fl ight crew training did An earlier report released by into crisis seven months ago. ufacturer and how it (MCAS) lost his son, after families met morality. The music industry tional Transportation Safety not include information about international regulators said Boeing has faced fresh scru- was approved,” he added. with investigators in Jakarta. needs to unite against this, who Committee said Boeing’s design MCAS,” it said. the US Federal Aviation Ad- tiny following the revelation Another expert said the “People keep telling me to let knows who they might target of the anti-stall system and its A sensor on the doomed jet’s ministration (FAA) lacked the of text messages from 2016 in aircraft’s design problems go, to stay strong, but how do next time,” Ghale said. certifi cation by US regulators system was “miscalibrated” and manpower and expertise to fully which a test pilot described the trumped all else. I do that? It’s not that easy. He Earlier this week, another singer was “inadequate”. the problem wasn’t caught by evaluate the jet’s MCAS when it MCAS during a simulation as “Pilots can make mistakes – was my only son and I miss him was arrested for a song, and The MCAS was vulnerable Lion Air maintenance crews, it certifi ed the plane. “running rampant” and behav- they’re human, but the root of every day.” released after he deleted it. (AFP) Nepal abuse victim sees attackers Flower gathering convicted after years-long battle

Thomson Reuters Foundation court acquitted them citing a Since then she has embarked ry day, but the real number is Kathmandu lack of evidence. on a law degree, saying she likely much higher, according The two men now face a jail wanted to become a judge to to Human Rights Watch. sentence of up to 19 years, but help other victims get justice, In recent years greater me- Nepali woman who was Bohara, who was stigmatised and is now in her fi nal year. dia attention, protests by civil physical abused as a and was ostracised even by Menuka Thapa, who heads society groups and changes Achild fi nally saw her at- some of her own relatives after Raksha Nepal, said Bohara was in some government policies tackers convicted this week af- she reported the attack, said granted compensation after her have helped embolden women ter a years-long legal battle that that did not amount to justice. attackers were convicted for the and raise awareness about their took her to the country’s high- “Does just sending two men fi rst time, but the payment got rights, say campaigners. est court, but said she was still to jail mean justice to me?” she held up by their appeal. Earlier this month, Nepal’s waiting for compensation for said in a brief telephone inter- She welcomed the Supreme parliament speaker resigned her ordeal. view with the Thomson Reuters Court verdict, saying it showed to allow an investigation into a Pooja Bohara was physically Foundation. “I should also get there was “rule of law” in rape accusation against him. assaulted in 2012 when she was compensation.” Nepal. Yet the conviction rate for 14, a case that made headlines Bohara left her village in re- “This has raised hopes that crimes against women remains and triggered anger across the mote western Nepal after the even poor and ordinary victims low at about 5% as many vic- Himalayan nation. attack and was given shelter like Pooja can get justice,” said tims do not testify for fear of On Thursday, the Supreme by the charity Raksha Nepal, Thapa. the stigma associated with A woman fills her basket with marigold flowers, used to make garlands and off er prayers, as she plucks Court found two men guilty of which helps sexually exploited An average of three abuse rape, said Thapa of Raksha them before selling to the market for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu, yesterday. assault, four years after a lower girls and women. cases is reported in Nepal eve- Nepal.

Election manifesto released Vietnam artist known for land Rare baby rights, death row work detained dolphins

AFP and fi lms about social issues in request for comment. spotted Hanoi Vietnam. Human Rights Watch swiftly “I told them what they did deplored Thinh’s disappear- DPA today was not right, not in ac- ance, saying it “shows the au- Yangon, Myanmar Vietnamese artist who cordance with laws and I need thorities’ incredible intoler- exhibited controversial my lawyer, and I refused to talk ance for any sort of criticism,” Aworks on land rights is- further,” he said. according to deputy Asia ive baby dolphins have sues and death row inmates Thinh was bundled into a director Phil Robertson. been spotted in Myanmar’s said he was briefl y detained in car but said the offi cers did not Thinh’s work has irked of- FIrrawaddy River, state me- the communist state intolerant have an arrest warrant – re- fi cials in Vietnam, a one-party dia reported yesterday, off ering a of dissidence of any kind. quired according to Vietnam state where critics and activists rare glimpse of hope for the en- Thinh Nguyen was picked law in order to offi cially detain are routinely jailed. dangered species. up outside his Hanoi home by someone. In a 2018 exhibition, he fea- “While guiding local and for- several men who were not in Before he was taken away he tured art by three death row eign travellers in the river, I saw uniform, along with one uni- wrote to a friend saying “Secu- prisoners he believes were two babies in a group of dolphins formed offi cer, and was driven rity. Detained me,” in text mes- wrongly accused. near Seinpangon village,” local to back to his house, which sages seen by AFP. The palm-size fi gurines of fi sherman Maung Lay told the doubles as his studio. He was released late yester- animals made from plastic Global New Light of Myanmar. The police forced their way day evening, though said po- bags were smuggled out by the He said he saw another two in to the space and took him lice confi scated two computers, inmates’ relatives, and Thinh calves in a group of eight dol- into custody at a nearby station several cameras and phones and hoped the show would help phins elsewhere in the river, and for several hours, he said after other electronics and books. raise awareness. one more calf farther down. Sri Lanka People’s Front party presidential election candidate and former wartime defence chief his release. A local police offi cer earlier “These animals were the Maung Lay is part of a dolphin- Gotabaya Rajapaksa distributes copies of his election manifesto during its launching ceremony in “They asked many questions said he was not aware of the voices of the death row pris- based community tourism project Colombo yesterday. concerning my work,” said arrest, while the ministry of oners,” he told AFP in a 2018 aimed at reducing locals’ de- Thinh, who has produced art foreign aff airs did not return a interview. pendence on destructive fi shing practices and capitalizing on the health of the dolphin population by attracting foreign tourists. Irrawaddy dolphins are regularly killed by fi shing boat propellers, Rights group casts doubt on Rohingya island relocation nets and electrofi shing. Six dolphin deaths were recorded in 2018. AFP overcrowded mainland camps edly willing to go, and found that me to go there, I will not go,” the Other rights groups have also Foreign Aff airs Subcommittee. A recent survey showed that Dhaka where almost a million Rohingya none had been consulted “and US-based group quoted another expressed misgivings about “We urge Bangladesh to post- there are fewer than 80 dolphins have lived since fl eeing a brutal all opposed it”. woman as saying. moving people to the island in pone any refugee relocations to in the river. military crackdown in Myanmar One woman on the list told It added that offi cials were the Bay of Bengal – which is Bhashan Char until independ- The government’s ecotourism global rights group cast in 2017. Fortify Rights: “If the Bangla- pressuring Rohingya camp lead- regularly hit by devastating cy- ent experts can determine it is a push includes a 74km stretch of pro- doubt yesterday on Bangladeshi offi cials have said desh government forces me to ers to identify those to be relo- clones – which takes around suitable location,” she said. tected river where mining and cer- ABangladesh’s claims that that between 6,000-7,000 Ro- go to the island, I will commit cated, and that it had seen a copy three hours by boat to reach. Bangladesh is growing impa- tain fi shing methods are prohibited. thousands of Rohingya refugees hingya have already expressed suicide by drinking poison here of a list identifying more than 70 The move has yet to be en- tient with the Rohingya’s pres- The area is patrolled by police, are ready to move to a new island their willingness to be relocated to in the camp. I will not go there... families. dorsed by UN agencies and ma- ence in the country, and has who arrested 10 fi shermen in 2018. site that critics say is prone to the island, starting in November. No one told me I was on the list.” “The island is not a sustain- jor bilateral donors. clamped down on them since a Wildlife Conservation Society natural disasters. But Fortify Rights said it in- “We are afraid of living near able solution for refugees and no Earlier this week US assist- repatriation attempt collapsed adviser Thant Zin told the news site Dhaka has long wanted to terviewed 14 Rohingya at three the water. People say that it one knows that better than the ant secretary for South and in August with not one of the Myanmar Mix that these eff orts move 100,000 people to the silt camps, including some who ap- takes four hours by boat to reach Rohingya themselves,” said For- Central Asia Alice G Wells refugees agreeing to return to have contributed to the growing islet of Bhashan Char to relieve peared on lists of refugees alleg- the island... Even if they force tify Rights chief Matthew Smith. urged caution during a House Myanmar. health of the population. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 7 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Hong Kong court raises concerns by banning disclosure of police details

Reuters cowering on the fl oor of a subway Britain, of inciting the unrest. a whole new can of worms and publication of private informa- plunged it into its biggest political in the Muslim community. Po- Hong Kong train. The police and justice secretary questions about enforcement,” tion online. “They also suff ered crisis in decades and taken a heavy lice said the incident was “most One offi cer this month was applied for a ban on disclosing he said. “It refl ects the dysfunc- all sorts of harassment, includ- toll on the economy. unfortunate” and unintended, slashed in the neck with a knife. names, addresses, e-mail ad- tion of the legislative process ing nuisance calls, verbal intimi- A rally dubbed “Medical Work- while senior offi cers met Mus- ong Kong’s High Court Police have responded to the vio- dresses, telephone numbers and that injunctions are being used in dation and even death threats,” ers Resisting Tyranny” is planned lim leaders to off er apologies. yesterday banned people lence with tear gas, water cannon, other details, including chil- this way.” Police Public Relations Branch at Chater Garden in the heart of US Vice President Mike Pence Hfrom disclosing personal rubber bullets and occasional dren’s school addresses. Hong Kong-based lawyer and Chief Superintendent Tse Chun- the fi nancial centre today, with accused China on Thursday of information about the police and live rounds, wounding several. The court agreed to an in- author Antony Dapiran said the chung said at the time. “Some another protest, “Fight Against curtailing “rights and liberties” their families, widely targeted in Protesters are angry about what junction, including a broad ban injunction was a “very alarming people misused our offi cers’ per- Police Brutality, Stand with Mus- in Hong Kong and blasted US protests that have gripped the they see as Chinese interference on “harassing” and “pestering”, development”. “Serious restric- sonal data to apply for loans.” lims, Citizens and Journalists”, due company Nike and the National Chinese-ruled city for months, in Hong Kong, which Britain re- which media said would last until tion on freedom of expression The rallying cry of the protest tomorrow across the harbour in Basketball Association for falling prompting concern among legal turned to China in 1997 under Nov 8. Professor Simon Young, eff ectively criminalises a whole movement is “fi ve demands, not Kowloon district. in line with Beijing in a disagree- experts. a “one country, two systems” of the University of Hong Kong’s range of perfectly lawful acts one less”, including universal suf- A police water cannon truck ment over free speech. Pro-democracy activists formula intended to guarantee law school, told Reuters that the which will now be punishable frage and an independent inquiry shot bursts of blue-dyed water Chinese Foreign Ministry have attacked police with petrol freedoms that are not enjoyed on move eff ectively amounted to a as contempt of court,” Dapiran into perceived police brutality, at a small clutch of people on the spokeswoman Hua Chunying de- bombs, rocks and lasers shone in the mainland. law targeting a select group – a wrote on Twitter. Police said in which leader Carrie Lam has re- footpath outside a mosque dur- nounced Pence’s comments and their eyes, furious at social me- China denies meddling. It has serious move which should be August more than 1,600 offi cers fused to grant. ing protests in Kowloon on Sun- said the United States should re- dia footage of random beatings, accused foreign governments, dealt with through new legisla- and their family members had Hong Kong is now in its fi fth day, hitting its gate and steps, fl ect on its own domestic issues, especially one against protesters including the United States and tion, not an injunction. “It opens been victimised by doxxing – the month of protests, which have drawing criticism from some like gun violence. Australia’s Uluru closes to climbers

An aerial view of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is seen ahead of a permanent ban on climbing the for good after monolith, at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory yesterday. decades-long fi ght

Reuters Climbing ban takes eff ect from today; Tourist numbers Yulara surge ahead of permanent ban; Indigenous landowners ask tourists not to climb Uluru ustralia’s Uluru offi cially closed to climbers for Agood yesterday, although the last visitors to scale the sa- cred rock were allowed to stay until sunset, as a permanent ban takes eff ect after a decades-long fi ght by indigenous people. To commemorate the climbing ban, public celebrations will take place over the weekend when the dismantling of the trail and its railing is also expected to begin. Earlier in the day, hundreds of tourists clambered up the Unesco Park rangers at Uluru remove the old signs that explain the climb to tourists. World Heritage-listed 348-m (1,142-ft) monolith, formerly known as Ayers Rock. Authorities had opened the A new permanent closure sign is installed at Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, the day before a climb mid-morning amid clear permanent ban on climbing the monolith takes eff ect following a decades-long fight by indigenous people to skies, after blustery conditions close the trek, near Yulara, Australia, yesterday. delayed early trekkers. Uluru is a top tourist draw in Australia de- since 1985, when the park was from the Australian city of Ad- Dozens of people have died spite its remote desert location returned to indigenous control. elaide who lined up early in the while climbing Uluru, from falls near Alice Springs in the North- The Anangu say Uluru has deep morning to make the trek, said and dehydration. Summer tem- ern Territory. spiritual signifi cance as a route she had mixed feelings. peratures often top 40C. While most visitors don’t their ancestors took. “This is our “You want to respect the cul- The closure was announced climb its steep, red-ochre fl anks, home,” read a sign at the base of tural side of things, but still you two years ago when fewer than the impending Oct 26 ban has the rock. want to have it as a challenge to 20% of visitors were making the triggered a surge in people tak- “Please don’t climb.” “It shows get up the rock,” she told Reuters. climb. It was an emotional day, ing a fi nal opportunity to make that Anangu can actually make American tourist Kathleen said indigenous ranger Tijiangu the trek. decisions about the land they own Kostroski said she would not Thomas. Nearly 400,000 visitors and more importantly Anangu climb because it would be “sacri- “Happiness is the majority fl ocked to the Australian land- aren’t going to have to get sad any- legious” to do so. feeling, knowing that people are mark in the year to end-June, more,” said Steven Baldwin, na- One of the last climbers, Ja- no longer going to be disrespect- government data shows. Aus- tional park operations and visitor son Dudas from Las Vegas, said: ing the rock and the culture – and tralians still make up the bulk services manager. “Well, I know there’s a big con- being safe.” of the visitors to climb the rock, “Whenever anybody gets sick, troversy on the hike, and I re- The October 26 closure marks followed by Japanese, Parks Aus- or injured, or worse on the climb, spect the First Nations here, but 34 years since the land was given tralia says. they get extremely sad, so this is since it was an optional thing to back to the Anangu people, an The Anangu people, the tra- an absolutely fantastic day for the do, I decided to do it and now important moment in the strug- ditional owners of Uluru, have park and fantastic for Anangu.” that it’s offi cially closed, I won’t gle by indigenous groups to re- called for the climb to be closed Sonita Vinecombe, a visitor be hiking it anymore.” trieve their homelands. An aboriginal elder gestures while surrounded by journalists at the base of Uluru.

N Korea asks South to discuss removal Storm-hit areas in Japan of ‘capitalist’ Mount Kumgang facilities battered by heavy rains Reuters the exchange of documents, the the demilitarised zone separat- However, the South’s Unifi- Seoul ministry said. “The government ing the two countries. It was one cation Minister Kim Yeon-chul Reuters still missing and more than phoon Faxai in September and will prepare a creative solu- of two major inter-Korean eco- said he did not see the North’s Tokyo 300 were injured. “It has been then were hit by heavy rains tion to the Mt Kumgang tour- nomic projects, along with the proposal as a bid to exclude two weeks since the disaster due to Hagibis. orth Korea has proposed ism project” by protecting the Kaesong industrial zone, and an the South, because Kim Jong- caused by Typhoon 19 (Hagi- The government also asked that Seoul discuss the property rights of South Korean important token of rapproche- un had said he would welcome orrential rains yesterday bis) and the rain has continued 340,205 people to evacu- Nremoval of its facilities people while considering the ment during decades of hostili- South Koreans if it was properly battered areas of east- to fall intermittently so people ate their homes in Fukushima from the North’s resort of Mount international situation, inter- ties following the 1950-53 Ko- rebuilt, the Yonhap news agen- Tern Japan that were hit to need to take the necessary prefecture because of a threat Kumgang, a key symbol of co- Korean agreements and domestic rean War. cy said. by fl oods and high winds from caution,” Prime Minister Shin- posed by possible landslides. operation that Pyongyang re- consensus, Unifi cation Ministry Tourism has become increas- Typhoon Hagibis two weeks zo Abe said in a tweet. The rain pounded the To- cently criticised as “shabby” and spokesman Lee Sang-min said in Any withdrawal of South ingly key to Kim’s policy of “self- ago, killing at least one person, Evacuation orders were is- kyo area for much of the day “capitalist,” the South’s offi cials a briefi ng. Korean relics from the reliant” economic growth, as causing rivers to overfl ow and sued for at least 80,000 people before moving north. Total said yesterday. Any withdrawal of South Ko- scenic resort would it is not directly subject to UN prompting evacuation orders in Chiba, where rivers were ris- rainfall in the area around To- In the latest sign of the neigh- rean relics from the scenic resort be another setback for sanctions aimed at curbing the for hundreds of thousands. ing precariously close to their kyo was likely to reach around bours’ cooling ties, North Korean would be another setback for President Moon Jae- North’s nuclear programmes, One person was killed in a banks. Most trains services 200 to 300mm (8-12 inches) by leader Kim Jong-un has urged President Moon Jae-in’s cam- in’s campaign to end though they ban the transfer of landslide in Chiba prefecture, in Chiba were halted, leaving evening, the Japan Meteoro- that the South’s “backward” and paign to end confrontation be- confrontation between the bulk cash to Pyongyang. just east of Tokyo, with two travellers stranded at stations, logical Agency said. “hotchpotch” facilities at the in- tween the old foes, including ef- old foes, including eff orts There have been no South Ko- other people missing, accord- according to NHK. Some fl ights to Tokyo were frequently used resort be taken forts to resume stalled business to resume stalled business rean tours to Mt Kumgang since ing to public broadcaster NHK. Parts of Chiba were diverted because of the down- down and rebuilt, the North’s initiatives. initiatives 2008, although there have been Authorities warned of the drenched by 86mm (3.4 inch- pour, NHK said. KCNA news agency has said. “The North asking the South infrequent events such as the chance of further landslides es) of rain in an hour on Friday Tropical storm Bualoi, Yesterday, North Korea sent to discuss the issue ‘in writing’ Kim, on a visit to a nearby reunions of families from both and fl oods, especially in areas morning, with some areas re- which battered the Ogasawara notices to the South’s Unifi cation means they don’t even want to province, hailed a new tourist sides separated by the war. hit by levee breaks that have ceiving more than a month of islands south of the main Japa- Ministry, which handles issues talk about other things,” said resort being built there as a strik- Kim has called for Mt Kum- yet to be repaired after Hagibis rain in one day. nese archipelago on Thursday between the two sides, and Hy- Cheong Seong-chang, a senior ing contrast to Mt Kumgang’s gang to be refurbished in “our lashed central and eastern Ja- It was the third natural dis- while still at typhoon strength, undai Group, whose affi liate Hy- fellow at South Korea’s Sejong “architecture of capitalist busi- own style” alongside other pan with heavy rains and high aster to hit the area in the past was heading out into the Pa- undai Asan Corp built resort fa- Institute. nesses targeting profi t-making tourist zones, such as the Won- winds this month. six weeks. cifi c and expected to weaken cilities, asking for the demolition Mt Kumgang is on North Ko- from roughly built buildings,” san-Kalma coastal area and the That typhoon killed at least Much of Chiba lost power, in to a tropical depression later and seeking discussion through rea’s eastern coast, just beyond KCNA said. Masikryong ski resort. 82 people, nearly a dozen are some cases for weeks, in Ty- yesterday. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, October 26, 2019 BRITAIN Dead teenager’s parents take Foreign Offi ce to court

Daily Mail SUV travelling on the wrong side Offi ce for Police Conduct over its of human rights barrister Geof- munity and nor does his family.” But offi cers only informed Har- to keep them updated. Seiger said London of the road near the US spy base handling of the case. frey Robertson QC, Seiger said: This month, a statement issued ry’s parents, Charlotte Charles, the family’s lawyers were also set where her husband worked. It came two days after the “We will be shortly issuing what by Sacoolas’s lawyers admitted 44, and Tim Dunn, 50, a week to review the role of the US in the It has now emerged that the Northamptonshire chief con- is called a letter of claim which is a she was on the “wrong side of the later when they went to police granting of immunity to Sacoolas. he parents of Harry Dunn Dunn family had instructed law- stable, Nick Adderley, admitted prelude to a judicial review. road” when Harry’s motorcycle about rumours of Sacoolas fl ying Northamptonshire Police said it are taking legal action yers to seek a judicial review into his offi cers had waited a week to “We are absolutely clear that appeared over a hill on August 27. home. Seiger said Charlotte, from was “happy to support the IOPC Tagainst the Foreign Offi ce. Whitehall advice to Northamp- tell the Dunns Sacoolas had fl ed the Foreign Offi ce’s decision to She spoke to police at the scene Charlton, and Tim, from Brackley, with any concerns”. They say offi cials were wrong tonshire Police that Sacoolas had claiming diplomatic immunity. advise Northamptonshire Police but when offi cers visited her the both in Northamptonshire, had a The FCO said: “We have done in their advice to police that the immunity from prosecution and He also revealed offi cers were that Sacoolas had the benefi t of next day she said she had diplo- “steely determination to ensure everything we can properly to clear American woman who collided therefore couldn’t be prevented on the verge of travelling to the diplomatic immunity was unlaw- matic immunity. Police applied that Harry has not died in vain”. a path so that justice can be done with him in a fatal crash had diplo- from leaving the UK. US to interview the mother-of- ful and we will be seeking a ju- for a waiver of immunity but were He said Sacoolas was a “fugi- for Harry’s family. The individual matic immunity. Radd Seiger, the family’s three about the crash near RAF dicial review of that decision to told by the Foreign and Common- tive”, adding: “We appeal to her had diplomatic immunity while Anne Sacoolas, 42, fl ed Brit- spokesman, also said they were Croughton in Northamptonshire have it quashed.” He added: ‘(Her wealth Offi ce (FCO) on September to come back to this country and in the country under the Vienna ain less than three weeks after considering suing Sacoolas. And where her husband worked. husband), whoever he is, was not 16 that this had been declined, and face the music.” He said the fam- Convention on Diplomatic Rela- the 19-year-old motorcyclist was they are referring Northampton- Speaking after the Dunn fam- a diplomat and therefore does not that Sacoolas and her family had ily would be referring police to the tions.” The IOPC said it was “yet to killed in the smash with her Volvo shire Police to the Independent ily held a meeting at the chambers have the benefi t of diplomatic im- left Britain the day before. IOPC watchdog over their failure receive a referral”.

Telecom operators team up to EU states tackle rural ‘not-spots’ postpone Reuters London

ritain’s four mobile net- work operators have agreed Bto build a shared rural net- work, backed by government decision on funds, banishing countryside “not-spots” where consumers are unable to get an adequate signal. EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three will collectively spend £532mnover 20 years, according to the plan pub- lished yesterday, potentially sup- ported by a £500mn investment Brexit delay from the government. The operators would invest in Reuters hold off to let political events play agreement early next week. The new and existing phone masts Brussels out in London. work of reaching consensus takes they would all share under the One EU diplomat said France a bit of time but it’s moving for- proposal, which the government pressed the other 26 to wait and ward,” the person added. hopes will be formalised early next he European Union yes- favoured a respite until November French President Emmanuel year. Digital Secretary Nicky Mor- terday agreed to London’s 15 or November 30 only to keep Macron has previously managed gan said she is determined to make Trequest for a Brexit dead- pressure on the House of Com- to sway the bloc’s extension deci- sure no part of the country is left line extension but set no new de- mons to approve Johnson’s deal or sions signifi cantly, meaning delay behind in mobile connectivity. parture date, giving Britain’s di- face a disorderly Brexit. options still range from just two “Brokering an agreement for vided parliament time to decide “Everyone wanted a decision to- weeks to the three months — to mast sharing between networks on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s day. But France had a problem with January 31, 2020 — requested by alongside new investment in mo- call for a snap election. that and wanted to wait until Mon- Johnson, or even longer should it bile infrastructure will mean peo- “There was full agreement on day/Tuesday to see what happens be clear that Britain is headed for ple get good 4G signal no matter the need for an extension,” an EU in London,” the diplomat said. “We an early election. where they are or which provider offi cial said after ambassadors to will come back to this discussion Any delay can only be granted they’re with,” she said. the 27 countries staying together on length after the weekend. And unanimously and it could come “But it is not yet a done deal in the bloc met to discuss post- this time is to be used for political as little as 60 hours before Britain and I want to see industry move poning Britain’s exit, less than a consultations.” A French diplomat would otherwise crash out. quickly so we can reach a fi nal week before the current deadline said the 27 agreed to grant a delay According to a draft document agreement early next year.” of October 31. in principle and, unlike before, to seen by Reuters ahead of yester- The operators have agreed to “Work will continue over the do so without convening an emer- day’s meeting, a delay was to be share existing masts and infra- weekend” and the envoys will gency summit of EU leaders — a granted “with the view to allow- structure in areas where there is meet again in Brussels on Monday sign of how fed up the EU is with ing for the fi nalisation of the rati- coverage from at least one but not or Tuesday, the person said. the Brexit saga. fi cation” of the divorce agreement all operators. If this is delivered, A day after admitting that he “On the length, we will fi nd an sealed with Johnson last week. the government will then com- will not meet his “do or die” dead- mit up to £500mn of investment line of October 31, Johnson said it to eliminate total not-spots — the was up to the EU to decide on an PM tells Corbyn to ‘man up’ and accept snap poll hard-to-reach areas where there extension but that Britain “should is no coverage from any operator. be leaving on October 31”. Prime Minister Boris Johnson Corbyn said in response to The agreement will bring high- “Of course October 31 is still yesterday told opposition Johnson’s initial challenge on quality 4G coverage to 95% of possible — we could leave on Octo- leader Jeremy Corbyn to Thursday that he would wait Britain by 2025, the government ber 31 — unfortunately it depends “man up” and accept a to see the length of the Brexit said. on what the EU says,” he said, add- snap December 12 election deadline extension granted Poor mobile coverage in rural ing that if opponents frustrate his to help settle the Brexit by the European Union. “Time areas has been a problem in Britain bid for an election on December crisis. Johnson’s comments for Corbyn (to) man up. Let’s for many years, aff ecting residents 12 his minority government would came with the Labour main have an election on December and visitors including former not engage in pointless “Brexitol- opposition still fighting over 12,” Johnson told television prime minister David Cameron, ogy” in parliament. how — or if — to take Britain stations. “What I’m saying to who has said he had to cut short The EU envoys, who met for out of the European Union Corbyn and the Labour Party is holidays in Cornwall, in England’s about two hours, had been due to more than three years after that they have the opportunity south west, because of poor com- Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at the children’s ward with chief nurse Nicola Burns-Muir as he discuss the length of a third delay a referendum. Labour leader now to get this thing done.” munications. visits Milton Keynes University Hospital in Buckinghamshire, Britain, yesterday. to Brexit but diplomats decided to ‘Severe punishment’ for Roundtable discussion Flood alert issued as heavy rains forecast

Guardian News and Media the Azores was expected to come 39 truck deaths sought across to the UK, bringing wide- London spread rain with it. Reuters Mo Robinson from the Portad- sex, and Chinese foreign minis- “The areas most at risk are the Grays, England own area of the British province. try spokeswoman Hua Chunying orecasters have warned of areas that are within the warning Detectives will decide later said police had not yet been able potential widespread and areas, so you’ve got parts of Cum- whether to charge him with an to verify the nationalities of the Fdangerous fl ooding in south bria and the Pennines,” she said. hina yesterday called on off ence, release him or ask a deceased. Wales as parts of the UK face “We’re looking at 30mm to 50mm the government to seek court for more time to quiz him. “We hope that the British side heavy rain and a plunge in tem- of rain quite widely, with perhaps C“severe punishment” for Late on Thursday, authorities can as soon as possible confi rm peratures this weekend. 120mm over higher ground for those involved in the deaths of moved 11 of the victims — 31 men and verify the identities of the Weather warnings are in place the warning in south Wales.” The 39 people, believed to be Chinese and eight women — to a hospital victims, ascertain what hap- for “heavy and persistent” rain yellow warnings of rain covering nationals, found in a truck con- mortuary from a secure location pened and severely punish crim- stretching from the south-west of northern and south western parts tainer near London, while police at docks near to the industrial inals involved in the case,” she Britain, across the whole of Wales of the UK began from 3pm yester- quizzed the driver on suspicion estate in Grays about 30km east told a daily news briefi ng. and through much of the Mid- day and will last for 24 hours. The of murder. of London where the bodies were For years, illegal immigrants lands, to northern England. amber warning for Wales began Post-mortem examinations of found. have attempted to reach Brit- South Wales is likely to be from 6pm yesterday and lasts un- 11 of the deceased began as po- Police have said the process ain stowed away in trucks, often worst aff ected. An amber warning til 11am today. lice and forensic experts sought of identifying those who died from the European mainland. was issued and the Met Offi ce told The fi rst widespread frost of to identify the dead, how they would take some time while au- In 2000, 58 Chinese were residents to expect “fast-fl owing the season is also anticipated had died and who was involved topsies were carried out to deter- found dead in a tomato truck at or deep fl oodwater”. It said there during the weekend, as a burst of in the suspected human traffi ck- mine how exactly they died. the port of Dover. was a strong chance some com- polar maritime air brings colder ing ring. “This is the largest investiga- China’s Global Times, which is munities would be cut off and temperatures to northern parts of Detectives were continuing to tion of its kind Essex Police has published by the ruling Commu- there was potential for power Britain today and the rest of the quiz the 25-year-old truck driver ever had to conduct and it is like- nist Party’s offi cial People’s Dai- cuts. country tomorrow and into next from Northern Ireland who was ly to take some considerable time ly, said in an editorial yesterday “We want people to be aware week. arrested after the grim discovery to come to a conclusion,” Essex that Britain should bear some re- that fl ood water can be extremely Maxey said areas where that of the bodies in the back of his chief constable Ben-Julian Har- sponsibility for the deaths. dangerous, and people should not cold air met the warmer air would refrigerated truck on an industri- rington said. “It is clear that Britain and rel- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attempt to walk or drive through receive the heaviest rainfall. “Be- al estate near London in the early His force has said their priority evant European countries have attend a roundtable discussion on gender equality with The it unless instructed by the emer- cause of the colder air, there’s a hours of Wednesday morning. was ensuring respect and com- not fulfi lled their responsibility Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT) and One Young World at gency services,” it said. possibility that some of the rain He has not been formally iden- passion for the victims. to protect these people from such Windsor Castle in Windsor yesterday. A Met Offi ce spokeswoman, may fall as snow, but only over tifi ed but a source familiar with The Chinese embassy in Lon- a death,” the widely read tabloid Nicola Maxey, told PA Media very high ground in the north,” the investigation named him as don said it had sent a team to Es- said. that a low-pressure system over she said. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 9 EUROPE

Pope apologises for theft of statues Green Climate Fund from church

DPA be celebrated, he told DPA, pri- Vatican City or to the Pope’s remarks. The synod started on Oc- gets higher pledges tober 6 and closes tomorrow ope Francis has apolo- with a Mass in St Peter’s Ba- By Laurie Goering, Reuters However, because the United threatened ecosystems in Na- $100mn to help least-developed fund’s pipeline for cash, she said gised for the theft of in- silica, but it eff ectively wraps London States, under President Donald mibia. countries and struggling small in a statement. Pdigenous statues from up today when bishops are due Trump, reneged on two-thirds of The GCF has committed to islands cope with climate threats, GCF head Glemarec said a key a Roman church, an incident to vote on a highly anticipated its initial $3bn pledge, and cur- spend half of its funding on ef- Thwaites said. role of the GCF’s spending was that plunged into further con- fi nal document. ealthier countries rency values changed, it eff ec- forts to help poorer countries The money was not intended to show private investors that troversy a divisive Vatican Brandmueller has led criti- have promised nearly tively had only $7.2bn to spend, adapt to climate threats, which for the GCF but shows issues af- good investments are possible summit on the Amazon. cism of the summit because W$9.8bn over the next said Yannick Glemarec, its ex- rarely attract signifi cant private fecting poorer states “are on their in poorer countries, and remove The wooden statues, repre- one of the issues under consid- four years to an international ecutive director. or government fi nance. radar”, he said. roadblocks to those, by setting an senting the Incan goddess Pa- eration is a limited change in fund to help poorer nations de- The new commitments, if ful- Most of the donors making Stepped-up GCF funding is example or helping shift policies. chamama (Mother Earth), were celibacy rules for priests. velop cleanly and adapt to cli- fi lled, will eff ectively give it 70% fresh contributions came from considered key to encouraging In developed countries, 98% on display in a church near St The idea is to allow the mate stresses, with nearly a more money to spend each year, Europe, though New Zealand, poorer nations to boost the am- of investment in renewable en- Peter’s Square, angering ultra- priestly ordination of older dozen nations doubling their with additional pledges likely in South Korea, Japan and Canada bition of their national targets to ergy is private, he said, but in the conservative Catholics who married men, but only in iso- previous commitments. coming months, he said. also committed funds, with New hold the line on emissions and least-developed countries it is saw them as a pagan atrocity. lated Catholic communities in The total was slightly higher The funding is still a drop in Zealand and South Korea pledg- better adapt to climate threats, under 1%, he said. Early on Monday, unknown the Amazon which currently than the $9.3bn committed to the the ocean compared with the ing to double previous donations. fi nance experts said. Thwaites said the GCF “comes men stole them and dumped have access to a priest only Green Climate Fund (GCF) at its estimated $3tn to $7tn a year Both rich and poor govern- in with money to do things the them into the Tiber river, post- once or twice a year. fi rst pledging conference in 2014, needed to shift the world’s econ- The funding remains far ments are expected to improve private sector isn’t yet comfort- ing a video of their actions on “It is a dirty and obvious and came despite the absence of omy onto a more sustainable and less than the estimated $3tn their climate action plans – cre- able doing. They have a demon- YouTube. trick” to claim the change commitments by previous major climate-friendly path, Glemarec to $7tn a year needed ated as part of the 2015 Paris stration eff ect and a de-risking Ultra-conservative com- would only apply to the Am- donors such as the United States. said. Agreement on Climate Change – eff ect and then you see a lot more mentators celebrated them as azon region and not open Climate fi nance analysts wel- But if used to show what is “This is a good start but in no by the end of 2020. private fi nance can fl ow in those heroes. the door to a global reform, comed the stepped-up pledges possible in developing nations way adequate to meet the needs Many developing-nation plans regions”. “As bishop of the diocese [of Brandmueller told DPA. – 11 of the 27 donor governments and cut risks for private inves- on the ground,” said Wendel rely heavily on external fund- This is especially appropri- Rome], I ask forgiveness” for “It’s not about the Amazon: doubled their previous commit- tors there, it could help spur the Trio, director of Climate Action ing to meet their most ambitious ate for projects like establishing what happened, Francis said it’s about everything,” he in- ments – but said the totals were much larger investments needed Network Europe, saying that he goals to put in place everything feed-in tariff s for solar or wind during a Friday session of the sisted. not rising as fast as the climate- to make that shift, he said. hoped more pledges would come. from renewable energy to storm power that help create a renew- summit of bishops, known as According to the 90-year- change threats poor nations must “We are very excited because The fund will remain open early warning systems. able energy market and give in- a synod. old, anti-celibacy “ideo- deal with. we should be able to prevent a for additional contributions Liane Schalatek, a climate fi - vestors confi dence. The statues “have been logues” have pushed their “It’s quite clear we have gov- lot of climate hurt” with the ad- throughout its next term, GCF nance specialist with the Hein- The GCF has so far mobilised found” and “have not been agenda “for decades. Now old ernments all over the world de- ditional funds, he told the Thom- offi cials said. rich Böll Foundation North $2.60 in additional fi nancing for damaged”, the Pope said, ac- and grey, and despite all their claring climate emergencies, and son Reuters Foundation. Thwaites said Belgium is ex- America, said the new GCF each dollar spent, though that cording to a video posted on failures, they believe they fi - far more fi nance from all sources The GCF so far has allocated pected to commit to doubling pledges were positive but “prob- fi gure is held down by its focus Twitter by a journalist from nally have a chance with this is needed to adequately address about $5.2bn to 111 projects in 99 its previous $100mn pledge to ably not enough to give develop- on adaptation projects, which the National Catholic Reporter, ‘synod’”. the challenge,” said Joe Thwaites, countries. the fund in coming months, and ing countries the confi dence to struggle to attract private fi - who was part of a press pool. The synod is also discussing a fi nance researcher with the US- They range from green, low- Mexico had attended this week’s signifi cantly raise their ambi- nance, Thwaites said. The Vatican was likely to lat- giving women a greater role, based World Resources Institute. cost housing in Mongolia’s pol- pledging conference in Paris too. tion”. He said the mobilisation rate er release an offi cial transcript. and the serious environmental In its fi rst fi ve years the fund luted capital and a methane- Gas-rich Qatar, at the UN sec- They were also insuffi cient was particularly respectable giv- German Cardinal Walter challenges faced by the Ama- received total promises of a little fuelled rapid-transit bus system retary-general’s climate summit to pay for the roughly $15bn in en the fund is working “in really Brandmueller, one of Francis’s zon region, including defor- over $10bn. in Karachi to restoring climate- in New York last month, pledged projects already waiting in the diffi cult environments”. most outspoken conservative estation and the oppression of critics, was among those who indigenous people. hailed the removal of the stat- However, the synod’s fi nal ues from the church of Santa document can only propose Maria in Transpontina. reforms. “In my opinion, this is a The fi nal decision rests with Rome case” where the actions should the Pope. public Russian soldier kills workers eight at army base on strike

Reuters AFP organisation Committee of Rome Moscow Soldiers’ Mothers, said that in general, such cases of mass murder are the result of abuse rade unions in Rome Russian soldier opened and total desperation. staged a general strike fi re on troops at a Sibe- “Commanders just close Tyesterday to denounce Arian military base, kill- their eyes to cases of system- what they said was the dire man- ing eight and injuring two, of- atic bullying,” he told AFP. agement of the Italian capital by fi cials said yesterday, blaming Senior offi cers leave victims Mayor Virginia Raggi and her the attack on a possible “nerv- with no means of complaining ruling 5-Star Movement (M5S) ous breakdown”. by confi scating their phones administration. The incident took place at an and overseeing all conversa- Workers from more than a army base in the Chita region in tions with relatives, he said. dozen fi rms controlled by city eastern Siberia during a change “They say it’s to protect state hall, including the public trans- of guard. secrets, but in reality that’s the port system and garbage collec- “The serviceman who last priority,” he said. tors, walked off the job, warning opened fi re has been detained,” When such cases are probed, that the city was falling apart. the defence ministry said in a “investigators come to the base “Three years after the election statement. and interview soldiers who Belgium’s Crown Princess Elisabeth is applauded at the ceremony on the occasion of her 18th birthday, at the Royal Palace in Brussels. of Raggi, Rome has been aban- Russia’s Investigative Com- have already been briefed on Inset: Elisabeth with her father, King Philippe, after she received the Order of Leopold at the ceremony. doned. The labour market is in mittee, which probes major what to say”, Kurochkin said. crisis, totally put at risk because crimes, said that the shooter State news agency Tass, of this council’s management,” was a conscript named Ramil quoting a source, said two of said Ermenegildo Rossi, head of Shamsutdinov. the victims were offi cers, while the UGL union in the capital. The base is located in the the rest were conscripts and Belgium’s future queen Elisabeth turns 18 Raggi was elected mayor in town of Gorny, which is closed contract servicemen. 2016 in a vote that was seen at to all outsiders without a spe- Tass said the two wounded the time as a major breakthrough cial permit and is managed by were in a serious condition and AFP be happy. This is what I wish that has known only kings since criticised by pro-independence for the anti-establishment M5S, the ministry of defence direc- would probably be fl own to Brussels you wholeheartedly,” the king its creation in 1830. Dutch-speakers in Flanders. which went on to win 2018 na- torate responsible for main- Moscow for treatment. told the eldest of his four chil- Originally, the Belgian con- “An advertising show for the tional elections. taining Russia’s nuclear arse- A commission chaired by dren in a ceremony broadcast stitution stipulated that acces- monarchy,” headlined left-of- She accused unions yesterday nal. Deputy Defence Minister An- elgium’s likely future live on national TV. sion to the throne was reserved centre daily De Morgen. of damaging the city. Offi cials claimed the inci- drei Kartapolov was on its way queen Elisabeth was feted Elisabeth’s prospects of as- for the descendants of Leopold But, like her father, Elisabeth “A minority of unionists are dent was not work related. to the base. Bfor her 18th birthday yes- cending to the throne are still I by order of primogeniture is appreciated in the Dutch- trying to hold hostage a city “The actions of the service- A defence ministry spokes- terday in a symbolic moment for far off , given that her father is 59 “to the perpetual exclusion of speaking north, said Vincent of 3mn inhabitants,” she said man could be the result of a man declined to comment the royal house of the linguisti- and has reigned since 2013. women”. Dujardin, professor at the Cath- on Twitter. “The majority of nervous breakdown caused by when reached by AFP. cally-divided EU nation. However, the ceremony or- But the Salic law was abol- olic University of Louvain. citizens are tired of unjustifi ed personal circumstances not Brutal hazing rituals were a “Eighteen years is the transi- ganised at the elegant Royal ished in 1991, as Belgium fi nally “She has done all her school- strikes.” connected to his military duty,” major problem in the Russian tion to adulthood ... the country Palace in Brussels looked like an caught up with other modern ing in Dutch,” he said, which is Raggi promised to revive the the defence ministry said, army in the 1990s but this has can count on my commitment,” early coronation, with the entire monarchies with famous queens unprecedented for a member corruption-tainted capital when quoted by Russian news agen- signifi cantly improved in re- she said, dressed in an ivory government and key political such as Victoria and Elizabeth II of the Belgian royal family, for- she became the fi rst woman in cies. cent years. dress beside a visibly moved leaders attending. in Britain and the Netherlands merly seen to favour French. Rome’s 3,000-year history to be The wounded were hospital- Military conscription is Queen Mathilde and the reign- Now of age and fi rst in the or- with Beatrix and Juliana. At the palace bash, Elisabeth elected mayor. ised, the ministry said. compulsory in Russia for all ing King Philippe. der of succession, Elisabeth is The King of the Belgians was joined by 80 youths from all However, her rule has been Andrei Kurochkin, the dep- male citizens aged between 18 “Happy birthday, my dear on the path to become the fi rst holds an essentially symbolic over Belgium who also celebrat- marked by ferocious infi ghting uty chairman of soldiers rights and 27. Elisabeth. Spread your wings, queen of Belgium, a country role, and the monarchy is often ed their 18th birthday in 2019. and constant upheavals within her own team. Rome itself has also stumbled from one crisis to another, with garbage regularly clogging the streets and the transport system Nearly 300 police hurt in Catalan protests 80-year-old bank plagued by repeated woes. Dozens of buses have caught fi re because of poor maintenance AFP sos d’Esquadra, government ratist organisation, ANC, said The streets of Barcelona and robber sent to jail and city-centre metro stations Madrid spokeswoman Isabel Celaa told on Wednesday that according other Catalan cities were rocked have shut down for months be- a news conference following a to Catalonia’s regional health by demonstrations for sev- cause of malfunctioning escala- weekly cabinet meeting. department, 579 people were eral days after Spain’s Supreme DPA ing, presiding judge Hannes tors. early 300 police were Catalonia’s regional emer- injured by “police violence” in Court on October 14 sentenced Hechingen, Germany Breucker said in the town of A national transport strike af- injured in the violent gency services had previously the protests. the nine leaders, mostly former Hechingen in southwest Ger- fecting air traffi c control, ground Nprotests which erupted said they had treated 593 people Celaa said more than 200 members of the Catalan regional many. handling services and some across Catalonia following the injured in the protests between people were arrested during the government, to prison terms of German court handed a The man admitted to target- airline staff coincided with the jailing of nine Catalan separatist October 14 and 20, including protests. up to 13 years for sedition over seven-year prison sen- ing a number of banks over the Rome stoppage, adding to trav- leaders earlier this month, the 226 police offi cers. Of these, 134 adults and 15 a failed 2017 independence bid. Atence to an 80-year- years 2009 to 2019, using the ellers’ problems in Italy. Spanish government said yes- The latest toll for the number minors have appeared before a Demonstrators set fi re to cars old on Thursday for a series of same method. Alitalia said it had to cancel terday. of injured police is higher be- judge, and 31 were sent to jail. and garbage bins and threw bank robberies that took place He entered the bank carrying some 240 fl ights yesterday, while A total of 289 police offi c- cause some offi cers were treated Of the 15 minors, 14 were re- rocks, Molotov cocktails and over a decade. a fake bomb and handed over a low-cost airlines such as Ryanair ers were injured in the clashes, in private clinics, a spokesman leased on probation and one was steel balls at police, who re- The bank staff targeted by letter demanding money. and EasyJet also had to pull nu- including 154 from Catalonia’s for the interior ministry said. placed in a juvenile detention sponded with batons and rubber the man had endured consid- He was successful on three merous fl ights because of the la- regional police force, the Mos- A powerful grassroots sepa- centre. bullets. erable psychological suff er- occasions. bour dispute. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, October 26, 2019 INDIA

PEOPLE LEGAL WEATHER INDUSTRIAL ACTION POLLUTION Achuthanandan Supreme Court refuses to Goa issues red alert 17,000 doctors on Air quality in admitted to hospital rescind Maradu flats order over heavy rains strike in Tamil Nadu capital deteriorates

Veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist The Supreme Court yesterday said it will not The Goa government yesterday issued a Thousands of patients in Tamil Nadu Pollution levels in New Delhi have hit their leader and former Kerala chief minister, V retract from its order on the demolition of red alert as heavy rains and strong winds government hospitals were aff ected as worst for the second time in October — S Achuthanandan, has been admitted to a the Maradu flats in Kochi. The court rejected triggered by the formation of cyclone Kyarr 17,000 doctors went on an indefinite strike earning a “very poor” rating and indicating air private hospital, in Thiruvananthapuram. the prayer by the builders’ association in the Arabian Sea caused water logging in from yesterday demanding pay parity. quality could deteriorate further after Diwali. He turned 96 last Sunday. According to Confederation of Real Estate Developers various parts of the state and road blockages Besides pay parity with their counterparts The air quality index, which measures the sources, his blood pressure has been erratic Association of India, which urged the court due to uprooted trees. The Goa University in the central government, the doctors concentration of poisonous particulate matter, of late. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan visited to reconsider its order. The association had has cancelled all examinations scheduled to are also demanding that time-bound touched 388 in New Delhi yesterday, according him at the hospital. A seven-time legislator, recommended putting the flats to some other be held yesterday and today. Chief Minister promotion be implemented. DMK president to US embassy data, way above the “safe” limit Achuthanandan presently represents the use instead of demolition. “An order is an order, Pramod Sawant has said that disaster M K Stalin yesterday urged the Tamil Nadu of 60. The index measures the concentration Malampuzha Assembly constituency in Palakkad and it has to be complied,” the court said citing management teams were on standby in case government to hold talks with the striking of tiny poisonous particulate matter — PM2.5, district. He had campaigned for the 34-year- the instances of hundreds of deaths caused by of any untoward incident. The state’s fisheries doctors and find a solution. In a statement particles that are less than 2.5 microns in old Thiruvananthapuram mayor, V K Prasanth, floods. The court also ordered the Maradu flat department has also directed all fishermen issued in Chennai Stalin said despite giving diameter and can be carried deep into the the CPI-M’s candidate for the Vattiyoorkavu builders to deposit Rs200mn within a month in the state not to venture into the sea for the a written representation by the doctors, the lungs, causing deadly diseases including cancer Assembly bypoll, which he won on Thursday. with the court-appointed committee. next 48 hours. government has not acted. and cardiac problems. Key ally hits out at BJP’s Kerala unit

IANS la Janapaksham (Secular). Kottayam (Kerala) He joined the NDA in April, af- ter negotiating with both the Left and the Congress-led UDF, who he Kerala chapter of the said they were not interested in BJP-led National Demo- him. Tcratic Alliance (NDA) re- The BDJS also does not share ceived a jolt yesterday when the best of relations with the state seven-time legislator P C George, BJP unit and its chairman Tushar leader of its newest ally Kerala Ja- Vellapally had made it very clear to napaksham (Secular), came out them that they were not interested openly against the state BJP, say- in contesting the Aroor Assembly ing he cannot say how long his by-poll. party would be in the NDA. The BJP has just one MLA in the George’s response came a day 140-member Kerala Assembly. after the BJP failed to make any Meanwhile an uneasy calm pre- impact in the by-polls to fi ve As- vails in the Congress in Kerala after sembly seats in Kerala, the results suff ering an ‘unexpected’ reversal of which were declared on Thurs- in the by-polls in which it lost two day. “I fail to understand what’s seats – Vatiyoorkavu and Konni wrong with the BJP’s Kerala unit. – and won two – Ernakulam and All political parties fi eld candi- Aroor. Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) chief Dushyant Chautala accompanied by Haryana party president Nishant Singh addresses a press conference in New Delhi yesterday. dates to win elections, but this In Ernakulam, even though party fi elds candidates to lose the the Congress candidate won, the polls, as was evident in the fi ve As- margin came down from over last sembly by-polls,” a peeved George year’s 20,000 votes to less than told the media. 4,000. The party was, however, The BJP fi nishing a distant third able to wrest the Aroor Assembly in the Vatiyoorkavu Assembly seat, which had been the citadel constituency in the state capital of the Left for the past fi ve dec- came as a surprise as it had fi n- ades. The party will discuss its Congress ‘hoping to ished a close second in the two performance in the political aff airs previous polls. committee meeting on October George (68), often referred to as 27, but swords have already been the “rolling stone” in Kerala poli- drawn. The meeting is expected tics, joined the NDA in April with to be a stormy one as the defeat in much fanfare. He had also met Vatiyoorkavu and Konni is being Prime Minister Narendra Modi pinned on Adoor Prakash and K form govt in Haryana’ and BJP president Amit Shah a few Mohankumar. times. Prakash is the party’ present IANS Regional Comprehensive Eco- Haryana and Maharashtra and talks with independent legis- port to the BJP. Earlier former However, barely a few months Lok Sabha member from Attingal, New Delhi nomic Partnership (RCEP) and congratulated the party work- lator Gopal Kanda to form the Madhya Pradesh chief minis- later George has now come out who was an earlier legislator from the crucial winter session of ers for putting the hard work in government in Haryana saying it ter Uma Bharti urged the party against the BJP’s Kerala unit. the Konni seat. It is claimed he Parliament. the assembly polls. shows their “double standards” leadership not to take Kanda’s “In the 2016 Assembly polls, did not put much eff ort into cam- espite falling short by Also present were former In Haryana, the ruling BJP and hunger for power. support. BJP’s K Surendran lost by a margin paigning after the high command 14 seats to get the magic Prime Minister Manmohan emerged as the single largest Party spokesperson Ran- Bharti said that the party of just 89 votes from Manjeswar- rejected the candidate he had rec- Dfi gure in the 90-member Singh, former party chief Rahul party by winning 40 seats, but deep Singh Surjewala said, “you should take support from lead- am. But instead of contesting from ommended to contest the seat and Haryana Assembly, the Con- Gandhi, K C Venugopal, Rajeev fell short of the halfway mark by should look at the statements ers with a clean image. In a se- the same constituency in the re- hence, the loss of the Koni seat. gress is hopeful of forming the Satav, Randeep Singh Surjewa- fi ve seats. made by Narendra Modi and ries of tweets, Bharti said, “I cent by-polls, he went to Konni Similarly, in the Vatiyoorkavu government in the state with the la, Jairam Ramesh, A K Antony, The Congress, on the oth- Amit Shah at a time when Gopal have been informed that Kanda and fi nished third. I really fail to seat, which was vacated by K Mu- support of Dushyant Chautala’s Sushmita Deb, Ghulam Nabi er hand, showed signifi cant Kanda was a minister in the has off ered his support to us. understand what they are up to,” raleedharan, son of late veteran JJP and Independents (mostly Azad, Adhir Ranjan Chowd- progress from its performance state.” Gopal Kanda is accused of abet- George said. Congress leader K Karunakaran, BJP turncoats), party leaders hury, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Pa- in the last Assembly elections by Surjewala said that the Con- ting the suicide of a girl, whose The NDA in Kerala includes the a lot of confusion prevailed after said yesterday. tel, Mallikarjuna Kharge, Anand winning 31 seats. It had got 15 in gress had forced Kanda to resign mother also committed sui- Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), the party leadership rejected the Senior Congress leader Am- Sharma, Jyotiraditya Scindia and the 2014 Assembly polls. after the registration of a case cide after failing to get justice. Kerala Congress (Thomas), Lok candidature of N Peethamabara bika Soni said that the party will Mohsina Kidwai. The BJP got 36.49% votes, against him. “We also removed The matter is sub judice. He is Jana Shakthi, Kerala Janapak- Kurup, a known aide of the Karu- try to form the government in Leader of the party in Lok while the Congress bagged 28.08 him from the ministership. But out on bail. Whether Kanda is sham (Secular) and a few other nakaran family. the state. She was addressing the Sabha, Chowdhury, also lauded per cent votes. what was the stance of BJP then? guilty or not, will be decided af- small parties. Having started his On the loss, Muraleedharan media at Congress interim Pres- his party’s poll run in Harayana, The nearly year-old Jannayak And what’s the kind of double ter due legal process. However, political career as a Congress said: “Ever since the campaign- ident Sonia Gandhi’s residence. and termed the results as “en- Janata Party (JJP) was victorious speak the BJP is doing today. his election victory doesn’t member, George has moved ing began, I often pointed out that Soni had come to attend the couraging”. in 10 constituencies, making it a This shows their level of hunger give him a clean chit. There are across diff erent factions of the with Kummanem Rajasekheran meeting of senior party leaders Scindia, who is also the possible kingmaker, along with for power,” he said. several factors associated with Kerala Congress, formed his own not being the BJP candidate, the to discuss the Congress’ stand chairman of the Maharash- seven Independents Surjewala’s remarks came an election victory. I urge BJP Kerala Congress only to disband it RSS was upset, and the RSS shifted on several important issues like tra Screening Committee de- The Congress yesterday also a day after Kanda arrived in not to forget moral values,” she before recently forming the Kera- their votes to the CPI-M.” Citizenship Amendment Act, scribed the results good in both slammed the BJP for being in Delhi and announced his sup- tweeted. CBI fi les petition against Two truckers shot dead in Kashmir

Chidambaram’s bail police offi cial Munir Khan said. AFP Srinagar Last week two apple traders IANS Now, the CBI has sought re- material to show that the appel- and a driver — all three also from New Delhi view of the observation wherein lant (Chidambaram) or his men outside Kashmir — were killed in the top court had said that de- have been approaching the said wo apple truck drivers two separate attacks by militants tails are also not available as to witness so as to infl uence the were shot dead and their in the same region, known for its he Central Bureau of In- when, where and how those wit- witness not to depose against Tvehicles set on fi re in vast orchards. vestigation (CBI) yester- nesses were approached. the appellant or his son,” the top Kashmir, police said yesterday, in Gunmen also shot and wound- Tday moved the Supreme The top court also observed court has observed. the latest attack on the vital lo- ed a local apple trader and a Court seeking review of its order that there were no details about “The said allegation was not a cal fruit industry which has been fi ve-year-old girl last month in granting bail to former fi nance the form like SMS, e-mail, letter mere averment of the investigat- pulled into the confl ict between northern Sopore area. minister P Chidambaram in the or telephonic calls and the per- ing agency, but was based on the militants and New Delhi. The Kashmir Valley’s apple INX media corruption case. sons who have approached the cogent material available with it Tensions have soared since sector — currently in harvest The CBI, in its review petition material witnesses. and as such could not have been New Delhi’s August decision to season — is vital to the local fi led by advocate Rajat Nair, re- “The CBI has no direct evi- rebutted without even perusing strip the autonomy of the region economy, employing more than quested the top court to grant a dence against the appellant the material available on record. and impose a security and com- 3mn people directly or indirectly. hearing on the plea challenging regarding the allegation of ap- In view of this ground alone, the munication lockdown. Although authorities said the October 22 order of granting pellant directly or indirectly judgment rendered by this court The nearly $2bn apple trade has roughly 10,000 apple trucks bail to the former Union minis- infl uencing the witnesses. As is liable to be reviewed,” the CBI been caught between militants left the valley last week trade ter. rightly contended by the sen- said in its plea seeking review of wanting a shutdown of the local remains largely subdued, with The CBI submitted that the ior counsel for the appellant the top court order. economy in protest at the gov- many farmers voluntarily allow- fi nding rendered by the top (Chidambaram), no material Chidambaram was arrested ernment’s actions, and New Delhi ing the crop to rot on trees as a court was clearly contrary to the particulars were produced be- on August 21, and is currently which wants to restore normality. mark of resistance against New record and amounts to error ap- fore the high court as to when lodged in Tihar Jail in judi- The two drivers, who were Delhi’s August decision. parent on the face of the record. and how those two material wit- cial custody. After his bail plea from outside Kashmir, died in The Supreme Court on Thurs- On October 18, the court had nesses were approached,” the was dismissed by the Delhi the southern Shopian district, a day told the government to pro- reserved its order on the former top court said on October 22. High Court, Chidmabaram ap- militant stronghold, after gun- vide a timeline on restrictions minister’s plea. The CBI had The CBI has sought review of proached the apex court. men sprayed their vehicles with as it heard petitions challenging then opposed Chidambaram’s the top court observation that The CBI has chargesheeted bullets, police said. government’s gag order on com- bail plea, claiming he had tried to the allegations in the case are him with the other accused in A third driver was also injured. munication. “pressurise and infl uence” key based on documents. the INX Media corruption case. Women walk past security personnel during a lockdown in “We have some important The court fi xed the next date witnesses in the INX Media case. “More particularly, there is no Srinagar yesterday. clues about the attackers,” senior of hearing on November 5. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 11 LATIN AMERICA Haiti’s dicey prison conditions made worse by crisis

AFP tests from breaking out in Haiti’s Network (RNDDH) said. But in the impoverished Car- “When we take the example of raising fears that the country’s “The situation is always alarm- Port-au-Prince badly overcrowded prisons, but The permanent confi nement ibbean nation, the average pris- the National Penitentiary, which already precarious humanitarian ing, and rather than take risks, violates the law and risks the exacerbates the already dire situ- oner only gets less than a metre is the largest detention centre in situation will become worse. lawyers and judges stay at home.” health of prisoners, human rights ation of Haiti’s prisons, which to themselves. the country, it could be likened “Amid the crisis, it’s hard to The Port-au-Prince court- ith protests rock- advocates say. are the most overcrowded in the “People are being held in in- to a concentration centre,” la- get food and water to prisons,” house “is sandwiched between ing the streets, some “To prevent any kind of riot world with an occupancy rate ex- humane conditions that we at mented Haitian lawyer Jacques Ducena said. the fi efs of several rival gangs,” Wprison authorities in from the general tension in the ceeding 400%. RNDDH have long regarded as Letang. Even the courts themselves Ducena said. Haiti have confi ned inmates to country, prison offi cials decided The law dictates that inmates torture and cruel and degrading Outside prison walls, oppo- have been drawn into the strife. In the area around the public cells that lack showers or toilets, to keep detainees in their cells should get at least six hours per treatment,” Ducena said. nents of President Jovenel Moise “Almost all courts in the coun- prosecutor’s offi ce in Port-au- in a country where most detain- without being allowed at least day outside of their cell, while As of October 15, the Port-au- have protested what they see as try are closed and three judi- Prince, armed groups routinely ees are stuck awaiting trial for an hour of outdoor time,” Marie international standards recom- Prince prison, commonly called the his illegitimate election in 2016, cial buildings have been burned divert vehicles, while gun battles months or even years. Rosy Auguste Ducena of the Na- mend at least four square metres “National Penitentiary,” had 3,626 barricading roads and snarling since the beginning of the crisis,” have broken out at random for The move is meant to stop pro- tional Human Rights Defense of living space per person. inmates. It was built to hold 778. supplies of staple foods, while Ducena said. the past year. Riots will not Anti-govt demonstration derail Apec, UN climate meet: Chile

Reuters more recently said the pact could Santiago be delayed. A diplomatic source in San- tiago told Reuters the vice min- hile, grappling with vio- ister of trade had held a meeting lent protests that rocked with ambassadors from all the Cthe capital Santiago for Apec nations to assure them that days, will not let the riots derail both conferences would proceed plans to host two major global as planned. meetings in coming months, “From what I’m hearing in Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera the corridors there may be some said. changes afoot to the Apec leaders He said that there was “no week to make it more austere and chance” of calling off the No- cost less,” the source said. vember 16-17 Asia-Pacifi c Eco- A month ago, Chilean Presi- nomic Co-operation (Apec) dent Sebastián Pinera was praised summit or the United Nations in domestic media for his work at climate change conference the G7 summit in France for acting COP25 in December. as a go-between in a diplomatic Riots that started over a hike in spat involving French President Demonstrators take part in a protest against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. public transport costs prompted Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian days of arson attacks and loot- President Jair Bolsonaro over the ing that led to the arrest of more Amazon forest fi res. than 6,000 people and at least 16 Today, walls and bridges dead in one of the region’s tradi- around Santiago are scrawled tionally most stable and wealthy with graffi ti calling for Pinera’s nations. resignation after he became Vandals set fi re to metro trains the fi rst Chilean leader to bring and stops, sowing $300mn in troops onto the streets since the damage and hobbling public end of Augusto Pinochet’s 1973- transportation. 1990 dictatorship. Fresh protests in Bolivia Chile’s military has since tak- Jorge Heine, a former Chilean en over security in Santiago, a cabinet minister and ambassador city of 6mn now under a “state to China, India and South Africa, of emergency,” imposing curfews said Pinera’s stature in both con- for fi ve consecutive nights. “I’m ferences would be “undoubt- certain that under no circum- edly” diminished. after Morales election win stances will this come to impact Chile’s strength had been its the conferences,” Ribera told re- stable model of free trade around DPA/AFP Mesa, narrowly obtaining the the vote. Fraud allegations un- President Evo Morales Ayma,” porters. the Pacifi c, he said. “Now Chile is Bogota 10-point lead required to avoid leashed fi ve days of nationwide Maduro told a summit of the Ribera said Chile’s foreign not quite such the ‘oasis in a trou- a run-off . protests during which electoral Non-Aligned Movement in the ministry had contacted each of bled region’ that Pinera claimed it Mesa rejected what he called tribunals’ premises were burned Azerbaijani capital Baku. the 20 participants in the Asia- was just a few weeks ago.” resh protests broke out the “shameful and crass” fraud and Morales’ MAS party’s offi ces Morales “is facing a desta- Pacifi c gathering of nations, Chile took over the hosting of in Bolivia yesterday after and urged his supporters to con- attacked. bilisation campaign, he is fac- known by its initials Apec. “They the COP25 conference in Decem- FPresident Evo Morales was tinue protesting until the au- OAS secretary general Luis ing an attempted coup d’etat have expressed no doubt with ber after Brazil withdrew follow- declared the winner of elections thorities decided to hold a sec- Almagro said the election re- from external forces that try to respect to their attendance,” he ing the election of Bolsonaro, a on the weekend, despite allega- ond round of voting. sults should not be considered deny Bolivian voters, the Bo- said. climate sceptic. tions of fraud. The Organisation of Ameri- valid until the organisation had livian people their democratic The protests over inequality In Cerrillos, at a former air- Roadblocks were reported in can States (OAS), the European “We express our solidarity checked the vote count. rights,” he said. made Apec and the promotion force base just southwest of cen- La Paz and Cochabamba. Union and Bolivia’s Catholic with the Bolivian people Meanwhile Venezuelan “We have to recognise the le- of free and inclusive trade “more tral Santiago, workers continued The Supreme Electoral Tri- Church have also called for a and specifi cally with our President Nicolas Maduro yes- gitimacy of Evo Morales Ayma’s relevant,” Ribera said. to lay cement and pound nails at bunal was heavily guarded by run-off . brother, President Evo terday said his Bolivian coun- victory in Bolivia.” “If we want a more inclusive the conference site, unaff ected security forces after demonstra- The Andean country’s fi rst Morales Ayma” terpart Evo Morales was facing The new mandate means Mo- country, Apec is part of the solu- by the nearby rioting. tions that took place nearby on indigenous and longest-serving a foreign coup attempt, refer- rales, already Latin America’s tion.” Reuters spoke with several Thursday. president, 59-year-old Morales stopped publishing quick vote ring to the violent protests and longest-serving president, will US President Donald Trump workers, neighbours, contrac- Offi cial results said Morales had won his fi rst three elections count results, which had initially allegations of fraud after his remain in power until 2025. He earlier in October said he would tors and security guards at Cer- was the outright winner of Sun- outright. pointed to a run-off on Sunday. re-election. stood for a fourth successive likely sign a trade deal with Chi- rillos who said rioters had been day’s vote. He took 47.07% of Mesa, a 66-year-old former The electoral authority took “We express our solidar- term despite Bolivia’s constitu- nese President Xi Jinping at the thwarted by security forces amid the vote against 36.51% for his president, accused the elec- more than 24 hours to count the ity with the Bolivian people and tion limiting presidents to two summit, though US offi cials the most heated weekend riots. centre-right challenger Carlos toral authority of fraud when it last few percentage points of specifi cally with our brother, consecutive mandates. US criticism of narco Macri campaigns Court delays ruling strategy angers Mexico that could free Lula Reuters Wash operation, until they have Brasilia exhausted the appeals process. Reuters that then come in to Mexico and a large screen behind him of US In a swing vote that could Mexico City cause the death of civilians?” he President Donald Trump prais- make that possible, Justice Rosa said, using US gun laws as an ex- ing him at the United Nations razil’s Supreme Court has Weber voted to end the manda- ample. last month. delayed until next month a tory imprisonment rule that she exico’s president has Glenn told a congression- In the clip, Trump touted Bruling on whether defend- had supported in the past. accused a senior US al hearing in Washington on Lopez Obrador’s decision to de- ants should go to prison after los- Prosecutors have come under Mdiplomat of lacking re- Wednesday that Mexico should ploy 27,000 militarised police to ing their fi rst appeal, a decision increasing criticism for excessive spect for Mexican sovereignty develop a comprehensive strat- the US-Mexico border to help that could release ex-president use of temporary arrests and plea after he questioned the Mexican egy for fi ghting organised crime. thwart US-bound migrants. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who was bargaining to obtain evidence. government’s strategy for quell- “What we need to see is great- “Mexico is showing us great jailed last year for taking bribes. The prospect of serving im- ing drug cartel violence. er political...commitment from respect, and I respect them The 11-member tribunal is mediate prison time after losing President Andres Manuel the highest levels of government in return,” said Trump in the expected to vote 6-5 in favour of a fi rst appeal encouraged sus- Lopez Obrador responded to in Mexico,” he said, in response video, as Lopez Obrador stood overturning a rule that convicts pects to negotiate plea deals with comments by Richard Glenn, the to a question in the hearing about by approvingly at his podium in start serving their sentences af- prosecutors, providing them US deputy assistant secretary the lack of progress in containing the ornate auditorium where he ter losing their fi rst appeal and with information that helped of state for international nar- drug cartels. holds court with reporters each instead allow them to exhaust unravel the biggest graft scheme cotics and law enforcement, on Glenn’s comments came a morning. the lengthy appeals process be- in Brazil’s history centred on en- Wednesday in the US Congress. week after Sinaloa cartel gunmen Lopez Obrador’s critics say he fore serving prison time. gineering contracts with state “Offi cials from other coun- forced outmatched Mexican se- has done too much to cater to Voting stood at 4-3 in favour companies, in particular state- tries should not give their opin- curity forces to release one of the Trump’s hardline immigration of keeping the rule when the run oil giant Petroleo Brasileiro. ion on internal matters that only sons of jailed drug lord Joaquin agenda. court suspended the hearing un- Former judge Sergio Moro, correspond to our government,” “El Chapo” Guzman, who had During his 2016 election cam- til November 6. who handled most of the Car Lopez Obrador said at a news briefl y been detained. paign, Trump labelled Mexican Ending the three-year rule Wash trials and is now justice conference. Later during the news confer- migrants as rapists and criminals could lead to the freeing of Lula minister in the government of “Imagine if I were to declare ence, held in Mexico’s national and since then has successfully Argentina’s President and current presidential candidate and dozens of other politicians right-wing President Jair Bol- that the strategy followed in the palace, Lopez Obrador sought to used the threat of across-the- Mauricio Macri speaks during a closing campaign rally in and businessmen convicted in sonaro, said scrapping the rule US is wrong because it allows for underscore the two neighbours’ board tariff s to push Lopez Obra- Cordoba, Argentina. Brazil’s biggest-ever corruption would be a major setback for the uncontrolled sale of weapons strong ties by playing footage on dor to help police the border. investigation, the so-called Car Brazil’s fi ght against corruption. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, October 26, 2019 PAKISTAN Opposition ‘divided’ over Musharraf: left Pakistan in 2016. planned anti-govt march Case To curb the upcoming ‘Azadi keep to his parallel token agita- ideologically resisted Rehman’s has been issued by the ministry (Abolition and Prohibition) militant Islamic State Khorasan against March’, govt bans uniformed tion and avoiding the trouble of insistence on using the “reli- of interior ahead of the sched- Act 1974 against Ansarul Islam Province (ISKP) group. wing of the JUI-F storming Islamabad. gious” card to galvanise support, uled talks between the opposi- which shall, inter alia, include According to the letter, intel- Similarly, Pakistan Muslim which his grandfather Zulfi kar tion and the government on the the power to ban/abolish the ligence reports suggest that the Musharraf Internews League – Nawaz (PML-N) presi- Ali Bhutto had conceded to Re- Azadi March, sources said here said organisation”. ISKP was planning to launch at- Islamabad dent Shehbaz Sharif seems pre- hman’s father Mufti Mehmood, yesterday. Last week, the interior minis- tacks in major cities during the occupied with his own issues, he has not been as keen on fi rst The notifi cation says that the try recommended the abolish- upcoming “Azadi March”. in limbo despite his brother and former setting the principal democratic federal government has “reasons ment and banning of the JUI-F’s “Likely targets of attacks may o far, most parties in the premier Nawaz’s mandate to targets for a mass agitation. to believe that Ansarul Islam, “militant wing”, through a sum- include the main leadership of opposition All Parties take the plunge and join Reh- On the other hand, Sheh- a private militia/razakar [vol- mary to the federal cabinet. political parties, personnel of Internews SConference (APC) seem to man’s move. baz Sharif, without jumping unteer] force of JUI-F Group is Meanwhile, the National law-enforcement agencies and Islamabad be not standing fi rm on even the The JUI-F chief’s freedom into the fray, is said to support capable of functioning as a mili- Counter Terrorism Authority general public,” the Nacta said. three political demands of its to act had been compromised maintaining Rehman’s pressure tary organisation in violation (Nacta) issued a nationwide ter- “It has also been learnt that ter- four-point charter, due to their when he allowed an 11-member to get some relief for his family, of the prohibition contained in ror alert, naming a group with rorist organisations, especially he treason case against disparate objectives. APC team to negotiate with the and strive for an in-house coup Article 256” of the Constitution. links to the Islamic State group the ISKP, will use ‘Azadi March’ former military ruler It appears that only Maulana government’s team, considered against Prime Minister Khan in It says that “in pursuance of (known locally as Daesh). as a conduit to spread its tenta- TGeneral Pervez Mushar- Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiat Ulema- a ploy to defuse the momentum the National Assembly and his approval of the federal govern- The Nacta letter, which was cles and infi ltrate into major cit- raf in a special treason tribunal, e-Islam – Fazlur (JUI-F) is will- of the planned “Azadi March”. government in Punjab. ment in terms of Article 146(1) forwarded to the law enforce- ies of the country in the garb of which had pressed for faster ing to fi ght to the fi nish while What is intriguing is Reh- Meanwhile, the federal gov- of the Constitution and after ment forces, intelligence chiefs, ‘Azadi March’ participants.” proceedings last week, has been trying to get the others to join. man’s strategy when he took a ernment has authorised the obtaining the consent from the the Frontier Corps Khyber The letter asked law enforce- taken aback by a government Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) step back and agreed to change provinces to take action against provincial governments”, the Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balu- ment agencies and the general move that puts it in a limbo. chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zard- his principle pre-condition of Ansarul Islam, the JUI-F’s uni- federal government through chistan, the Frontier Constabu- public to observe vigilance and The Imran Khan government ari appears reluctant to overturn fi rst seeking the resignation of formed volunteer force, and ex- the interior ministry “entrusts lary KP, the political leadership caution, and adopt maximum has sacked the entire prosecu- the applecart of the Imran khan Prime Minister Imran Khan to ercise their power to “ban” the the provincial governments the of the country, the provinces, the precautionary measures during tion team engaged by the previ- government for fear of a possi- allow the “Azadi March” to enter organisation under the Private power to take appropriate ac- Islamabad administration, and the march, which is planned to ous government of prime min- ble takeover by what he calls a Islamabad. Military Organisations Act 1974. tions under Section 2 of the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kash- start tomorrow and culminate in ister Nawaz Sharif to prosecute “third force”, and is inclined to Although Bhutto Zardari The notifi cation to this eff ect Private Military Organisations mir, warned of terror acts by the Islamabad on October 31. Musharraf in the high treason case for abrogating and subvert- ing the Constitution by impos- ing emergency on November 3, 2007. Offi cial sources confi rmed Father of yesterday that when a spe- cial court tasked with the case against the former military dic- activist tator resumed hearing a day earlier, it was unexpectedly told that the government had termi- who fl ed nated the services of the pros- ecution team. However, the court was not to US is informed about the reason for sacking the prosecution team. The sudden disclosure about arrested the removal of the prosecution team surprised Dr Tariq Hassan, the head of the prosecution, as Reuters he told the court that he had only Peshawar just learnt about it. He, however, said the pros- ecution had already laid the en- security agency said yes- tire evidence before the court in terday that it had arrested September 2014. Athe father of a prominent Hassan said that the pros- political activist for spreading ecution had submitted written hate of the state on social media. arguments to the court as well Mohamed Ismail was detained and that there was not much left on Thursday after leaving a court at this stage when the trial was in the northwestern city of Pe- Well-dressed nearing its logical end. shawar. When contacted, he said that A US offi cial had earlier raised Models present creations by fashion despite all odds, the prosecution concern about harassment of designer Zuriya Dor (above), fashion team had done a tremendous job activist Gulalai Ismail’s family brand Alkaram (left), designer and did not leave any loophole in and the protection of rights. Hassan Riaz (right), and designer the case. Gulalai Ismail, 32, is a promi- Zellburry (below) on Wednesday Hassan said that since Mush- nent member of a group cam- and Thursday, the first and second arraf, despite repeated sum- paigning for the rights of the days of the Fashion Pakistan Week mons, had not turned up for ethnic Pashtun minority, and is (FPW) Winter Festival 2019, in recording his testimony under a vocal critic of Pakistan’s mili- Karachi. Section 342 of the Criminal Pro- tary. cedure Code, the court might She went into hiding ear- decide the case on the basis of lier this year and emerged in the available evidence. United States in September. The Sharif government had “The complaint is regarding fi led the complaint of high trea- ... hate speech and fake informa- son against Musharraf under tion against government institu- Article 6 of the Constitution in tions on Facebook and Twitter,” December 2013. the Federal Investigation Agency He left the country in March (FIA) said in a report. 2016. Senior FIA offi cial Mirwais On April 1 this year, the Su- Niaz said that Mohamed Ismail preme Court had directed the had been brought before a court special court to proceed against and remanded in custody for 14 Musharraf as it was empowered days. to do so even in his absence un- Gulalai Ismail was not imme- der Section 9 of the High Trea- diately available for comment. son (Punishment) Act, 1973. Her group, the Pashtun Ta- The special court, however, haff uz Movement (PTM), has allowed defence counsel Reza clashed with the military, which Bashir, who was appointed by has accused it of disloyalty and the law ministry on the court’s being funded by Pakistan’s re- directive to assist in the case, gional rivals. to appear at the next hearing on Earlier, before the authorities November 19. announced her father’s arrest, The court has summoned the Gulalai Ismail said that she was interior secretary to explain un- worried about his fate after he der which law the prosecution had been picked up by unidenti- team was terminated. fi ed men on Thursday. “He was abducted by men wearing militia black dress, he was forced into a black-tinted vehicle,” Ismail told Reuters in a text message. “We are very worried for our Former premier Sharif released on bail mother now and afraid that ... she will be arrested too,” she said. Sharif diagnosed with nite period”, a court offi cial told to hospital on Tuesday when his and other members of his fam- He added that the government diagnosed the reason for Sharif’s The US State Department’s immune system disorder AFP. blood platelet count dropped to ily, including daughter Maryam would not create any problem declining health. Bureau of South and Central “We applied for bail on the dangerous levels, local media re- Nawaz, who is also in detention in Sharif’s treatment “here or “It is acute immune throm- Asian Aff airs acting assistant AFP/Reuters/Internews grounds that his health condi- ported. for suspected graft, is politically abroad”. bocytopenic purpura [ITP], a secretary, Alice Wells, had ear- Lahore tions were deteriorating and The Supreme Court disquali- motivated. It was not clear if Sharif would bleeding disorder, in which the lier expressed her concern about that he needs better treatment,” fi ed Sharif from politics for life On Thursday Prime Minister be moved to another hospital or immune system destroys plate- the family. his lawyer, Azam Nazir Tarar, over graft in 2017, and he later Imran Khan said that “political allowed to go abroad for treat- lets,” a board member said, add- “We are concerned by reports Pakistani court has bailed told Reuters after the ruling in received a seven-year jail sen- diff erences aside”, his sincere ment, as his lawyer had request- ing that treatment was given to of the continued harassment of former prime minister Lahore. “The court accepted our tence. prayers are with Sharif, and that ed. Sharif in the light of his diagno- Gulalai Ismail’s family, and her ANawaz Sharif indefi nitely request and granted bail.” He denies all the corruption he had directed that the former The PML-N has said that sis. father’s detention,” Wells said on medical grounds, court of- A second court offi cial said charges against him and claims prime minister should receive any possibility of going abroad “We are hopeful that his on Twitter. “We encourage Paki- fi cials said, days after he was the ruling had come after doc- that he is being targeted by the the best healthcare. for treatment, if allowed by the condition will improve in a few stan to uphold citizens’ rights to taken to hospital from prison tors confi rmed that Sharif was country’s powerful security es- Punjab Governor Chaudhry courts, would be Sharif’s own days,” he added. peaceful assembly, expression, where he is serving seven years suff ering from an autoimmune tablishment. Sarwar issued a video message decision. However, Sharif’s white blood and due process.” for corruption. blood disorder requiring imme- Sharif’s party, the opposition in which he said the prime min- The party leadership added platelet count again dropped late The military is wary of Pash- The Lahore High Court grant- diate medical attention. Pakistan Muslim League – Na- ister had directed him and the that the party would not force on Thursday night, from 20,000 tun nationalism in the strategi- ed Sharif – who was prime min- It was not immediately clear waz (PML-N), has accused au- provincial government to allow Sharif in this regard. to 6,000. cally sensitive Pashtun lands ister three times before he was where Sharif would receive thorities of victimising Sharif Sharif’s daughter Maryam Na- Sources said yesterday that “The medical reports of the along the Afghan border. ousted for corruption in 2017 treatment or how severe his and his family. waz’s meeting with her father a six-member medical board, PML-N supremo have been sent Pashtuns live on both sides of – bail at Rs10mn ($63,900) on condition is. The government denies that and ensure best treatment for headed by Services Hospital to doctors abroad for their opin- the border. medical grounds “for an indefi - The 69-year-old was taken the legal action against Sharif him. principal Ayaz Mahmood, has ion,” a party leader said. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 13 PHILIPPINES Moratorium Mayor on president’s set to be lifted on foreign ‘drug’ list shot dead research ships in

AFP Manila Philippine waters

Philippine mayor tagged Reuters ippines, where one-fi fth of its by President Rodrigo Manila 107mn people still live below the A Duterte as a “narco-pol- national poverty line. itician” was ambushed while in The ban on foreign scientifi c police custody and killed yes- he Philippines will lift research last year focused on terday, police said, the latest a 2018 moratorium on an area called the Benham Rise, official on the leader’s black- Tforeign scientifi c re- which the United Nations in list to be targeted by unknown search in its exclusive eco- 2012 declared part of the Philip- gunmen. nomic zone so it can exploit pines’ continental shelf. Gunmen stopped a police van marine resources, the national It is believed to be rich in bio- that was taking David Navarro, security adviser said yester- diversity and tuna, and scien- the mayor of the small south- day. tists from the United States and ern town of Clarin, to the state President Rodrigo Duterte Japan have surveyed it numer- prosecutor’s office in the cen- banned all scientifi c research by ous times. tral city of Cebu and shot him foreigners off the Philippines’ However, Chinese inter- dead, authorities said. Pacifi c coast in February last est has caused concern among City police had arrested Na- year and told the navy to chase Philippine nationalists mis- varro, who was visiting on of- away unauthorised vessels. trustful of its intentions after ficial business, late Thursday National security adviser decades of disputes and per- after he allegedly assaulted a Hermogenes Esperon said that ceived encroachments by Bei- masseur, a Cebu police officer allowing foreign governments jing in the South China Sea. who asked not to be named and entities to conduct mari- Before the moratorium, Es- said. time research again is “good peron said “some institutions Following the attack, in for us...because we get to know and entities”, came in without which one of Navarro’s police more of the maritime domain”. permission, while others did not escorts was also injured, the The Philippines is also beefi ng allow Filipino scientists to board gunmen escaped, police said. up its capabilities to enforce their vessels. Local television footage fi sheries laws, Esperon said, He did not identify them. showed two women named by Relatives (right) of slain Clarin town mayor David Navarro mourn next to his body after he and his police escort were ambushed in Cebu, yesterday. with plans to acquire more coast This year, two Chinese re- the station as the politician’s guard assets and develop multi- search vessels were spotted lin- siblings crying and hugging a terte, who accused them of and Reynaldo Parojinog, were his office in the southern town purpose fi shing vessels. gering in Philippine-controlled bloodied body sprawled on the being “involved in the deadly killed by police in 2016 and of Ronda last year, was also on “Whatever we spend on de- waters, which became the sub- road beside a police van. game of drug trafficking”. Du- 2017 respectively. the government’s narcotics fence should strengthen our ject of a diplomatic protest in The Philippines has a vio- terte had also released a longer Espinosa was shot dead in- watchlist. Philippine police say position on developing our August. The Philippines has lent and often deadly political list in 2016 of more than 150 side a police jail. they have killed just over 5,500 maritime domain especially the also protested the presence of culture, but rights monitors judges, mayors and other lo- Mayor Antonio Halili, who drug suspects who fought West Philippine Sea into what more than 100 Chinese fi shing have expressed concern that cal officials allegedly linked to was assassinated by a sniper as back against arrest, but rights we call the blue economy”, Es- vessels off Thitu a tiny island it Duterte’s signature drug war drugs. he attended a flag-raising cere- groups say the true toll is four peron told a media briefi ng. holds near China’s militarised — which has led to the killings On that list, Mayor Vice- mony outside his office in Tan- times higher and may amount Manila calls the South China artifi cial island at Subi Reef. of thousands of narcotics sus- nte Loot of the central town of auan city near Manila last year, to crimes against humanity. Sea the West Philippine Sea. China claims it has historic pects by police — may be em- Daanbantayan later survived a was linked by Duterte to illegal International Criminal Court Capitalising on the so-called right of ownership to almost the boldening assailants. 2018 ambush, while Mayor Jed drugs hours after the attack. prosecutors have launched a blue economy, such as using entire South China Sea, despite On March 14, ahead of May Mabilog of the central city of The Philippine Drug En- preliminary probe of the drug the oceans to generate energy, a 2016 international arbitration elections, Navarro’s name had Iloilo went into hiding in 2017. forcement Agency also said war killings, and the UN’s top or tapping its oil and mineral ruling that said that claim had turned up in a list of 44 mostly Two other mayors in the Mariano Blanco, who was human rights body has ap- resources, could help boost no legal basis under interna- local officials put out by Du- longer list, Rolando Espinosa killed by unknown gunmen at proved a review. Clarin town mayor David Navarro. economic growth in the Phil- tional law. Gunman in journo Senator seeks review of water slaying identifi ed

By Catherine S Valente the long arm of the law will contracts over interruptions Manila Times eventually catch up on them,” the Palace offi cial said. Last Sunday, journalist Jupi- By Javier J Ismael to the president to review the agement under the Department residential Task Force on ter Gonzales and his compan- Manila Times contract that is not favourable of Agriculture on its viability,” Media Security (PTFoMS) ion, Christopher Tiongson, were to the people,” he added. David said. Phas announced that the shot dead inside their car after “If you enter into such a “Some measures being un- suspected gunman of a tabloid what appeared to be a heated al- enator Christopher Law- contract, you should deliver dertaken are the activation and columnist and his companion in tercation with the gunman. rence “Bong” Go yes- the needed water supply and establishment of deep wells, Pampanga has been identifi ed. Tiongson was killed on the Sterday said he would ask pay the fi nes, penalties. Do not augmentation from the wa- Presidential Communications spot, while Gonzales died before President Rodrigo Duterte to pass the burden to the public,” ter treatment plants in Laguna Secretary Martin Andanar, who reaching Arayat District Hospi- review the contracts of Manila he said. Lake, aggressive campaign on co-chairs the PTFoMS, said the tal. Water Co. Inc and Maynilad “You entered into this busi- water conservation and re- gunman was identifi ed as Ar- Andanar said closed-circuit Water Services Inc, as the two ness, you have to answer for it. sponsible use of water includ- mando Maglaya Velasco, who television camera (CCTV) foot- companies started implement- You should have not signed the ing rainwater harvesting,” he works for a local carnival op- age showed Velasco attempting ing rotating service interrup- contract if you cannot comply added. erator in Barangay Cacutud in to grab the steering wheel from tions on Thursday. with the required supply of wa- Areas aff ected by rotation- Arayat. the wounded driver in an at- The senator stressed that ter,” Go said. al service interruptions in- Citing a report from PTFoMS tempt to commandeer the vehi- the president was angered by Meanwhile, the National clude the cities of Caloocan, Executive Director Joel Egco, cle. reports of another water short- Water Resources Board (NWRB) Las Pinas, Makati, Malabon, Andanar said the gunman had “A closed circuit television age in Metro Manila and nearby said it would maintain the cur- Mandaluyong, Manila, Ma- initially sent surrender feelers camera captured the incident, provinces. rent water releases for domestic rikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, through his wife. which led authorities to imme- He recalled that early this consumption in Metro Manila Paranaque, Pasig, Pasay, Que- “I commend the Task Force, diately establish the identity of year when there was a water and adjacent provinces to arrest Bong Go: seeking contract review zon, San Juan, Taguig and the CIDG (Criminal Investiga- the gunman,” he said. crisis, the president got angry the decline in the water level of Valenzuela, as well as the mu- tion and Detection Group) Re- Egco had said that the victims and summoned offi cials of the Angat Dam, its top offi cial said. be attained,” NWRB Executive measures to ease the problem nicipality of Pateros in Metro gion 3 and the Arayat Police knew the suspect since he was two water companies and the “The reduction in alloca- Director Sevillo David Jr said in such as cloud seeding and the Manila. headed by Lt Col Dale Soliba for seen casually entering the vic- Metropolitan Waterworks and tion (46 to 40 cubic metres per a text message to Manila Times tapping of more deep wells. Bacoor, Cavite City, Imus, a job well done. This proves that tim’s car. Sewerage System (MWSS). second or m3/s) for October yesterday. “Cloud seeding is being dis- Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in this administration will stop at “Our investigation showed “The president got angry; and November is part of our Water releases from the dam cussed with relevant agencies the province of Cavite; Bulacan; nothing to hold perpetrators of that Gonzales knew his killer. In they did something, there was mitigating plan to address the to the MWSS was lower than such as the MWSS (and) the Pa- and Angono, Antipolo, Baras, violence against media workers fact, the gunman fi rst boarded water. I don’t believe the report lowering of the Angat Dam’s the allocation of 48 m3/s on gasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Binangonan, Cainta, Jalajala, to account,” Andanar said in a the left backseat of the victim’s on water shortage,” Go said. water level and should the nor- normal days. Geophysical and Astronomical Rodriguez, San Mateo, Taytay statement. car and presumably spoke with “Yes, the president should mal high water level of 212 me- Nonetheless, concerned Services Administration) and and Teresa in Rizal province “They can run and hide but the victims,” Egco said. order the review, I will suggest tres by the end of the year not agencies are considering some Bureau of Soils and Water Man- were also aff ected.

Govt loses bid to recover millions from estate of former dictator Marcos

AFP to efforts to recover the late President Rodrigo Duterte’s for his hidden wealth. “We all Manila dictator’s alleged ill-gotten spokesman Salvador Panelo know that the Duterte govern- wealth after the court also said his government does not ment is very hospitable, to say ruled in favour of Marcos’ es- interfere with the courts. the least, to the Marcoses,” said he Philippine government tate on another multi-million- The office of the Ombuds- Bonifacio Ilagan, one of thou- has lost a decades-old dollar case in September. man that handles hidden sands imprisoned during the Tlegal eff ort to seize mil- After a bloodless “people wealth cases did not respond to dictator’s rule and now spokes- lions of dollars from the estate power” revolt chased Marcos an AFP request for comment. man of a citizens coalition of former dictator Ferdinand into US exile in 1986, the Phil- About a dozen forfeiture cas- seeking to prevent the Mar- Marcos, a court said yesterday, ippines launched a global bid to es against the Marcoses have coses from regaining the Phil- accusing state prosecutors of recover at least $10bn in assets yet to be resolved. The heirs ippine presidency. failing to produce admissible that the Marcoses and their returned to the Philippines af- In a rare legal setback last evidence. cronies acquired using funds ter the patriarch died in exile year, a court sentenced Im- Lawyers had submitted “de- allegedly stolen from state cof- in Hawaii in 1989, later getting elda Marcos to at least six fective” evidence consisting fers over his 20-year rule. themselves elected to congres- years in prison for each of the mostly of poor-quality photo- It has recovered 172.6bn pe- sional seats and local posts. seven charges that the fam- copies, some of which were no sos ($3.4bn at current market Rodrigo Duterte’s election in ily funnelled roughly $200mn longer readable, Justice Alex rates) so far, according to the 2016 cemented their comeback of embezzled funds through Quiroz of a special anti-graft government agency tasked as the government gave the ex- Swiss foundations decades ago. court said in a release of the with tracking down the assets. president’s remains a hero’s However, she remains free on October 14 decision. A lawyer for the Marcos fam- burial and publicly floated the bail after filing an appeal with File photo taken on November 15, 1985 shows then president Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda appearing The ruling was another blow ily declined to comment, while idea of winding down the hunt the Supreme Court. before some 35,000 college students undergoing a two-year compulsory military training in Manila. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, October 26, 2019 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Immigrant voters stand in Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko Production Editor Trump’s re-election path Amjad Khan Tribune News Service than eight percentage points – to court Trump has been less unpopular with Houston Latino voters. naturalised Asian immigrants, with P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar Citizenship applications spiked in a 38% approval and 52% disapproval the two years before the 2016 election, rating, according to a 2018 survey by [email protected] his is where a nation changes: which is common before a presidential Asian and Pacifi c Islander American 44350478 (News), a public school auditorium contest. But instead of dropping as and AAPI Data. These voters reported that moonlights as a veritable usual afterwards, the number of fi lings supporting Hillary Clinton over Trump 44466404 (Sport), Tcitizenship factory. grew in 2017 in the wake of Trump’s by 48% to 28%. 44466636 (Home delivery) At the M O Campbell Educational victory. The more than 800,000 In recent decades, Asian Americans Centre, where murals honouring the citizenship requests in 2018 were also as a whole – the fastest-growing 44350474 arts and sciences adorn the walls, US the most fi led in a midterm election ethnicity in the country – had been facebook.com/gulftimes immigration offi cials routinely hold year in two decades. generally more open to supporting packed naturalisation ceremonies. “There are these surges in Republicans. But the diverse group twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar Immigrants approved for citizenship applications when immigrants perceive is increasingly becoming a reliably walk in, take the oath of allegiance, and that it’s a time of crisis,” said Arturo Democratic demographic, according walk out as Americans – and as a small Vargas, chief executive of NALEO to Karthick Ramakrishnan, a professor army of new voters. Educational Fund, a non-profi t that of public policy at the University of “It will never, ever be easier to promotes greater Latino participation California, Riverside who studies Asian GULF TIMES register than it is this morning,” US in civic life. “We are going through a American voting trends. district judge Keith P Ellison, who similar period right now at the national “What we’ve seen in the last two presided over a ceremony last month, level, where immigrants are feeling a election cycles is either a crystallisation told the 2,155 immigrants from more bit in the cross-hairs by the Trump or solidifi cation in voting preferences than 100 countries who had just taken US President Donald Trump: troubles ahead administration.” and increasingly party preferences as Paying for ‘Medicare their citizenship oaths. “The record for According to data collected by the well,” Ramakrishnan said. registrations is 89% of those who are to vote, worrying some moderate New Americans Campaign, a coalition Liking a party is one thing. Mobilising sworn in. ... Let’s see if we can break Republican experts. of non-profi ts, almost a third of US to vote is another. Roughly three-fi fths for all’? Honestly, that record today.” “It’s not ‘bad-ish’ news. It’s immigrants hoping to naturalise this of foreign-born Asian American voters Amish Soni, a 34-year-old radiologist extremely bad,” said Mike Madrid, a year were most interested in gaining surveyed by APIAVote and AAPI Data from India holding a small American Sacramento-based GOP consultant who the power to vote – the “top reason by said they were not contacted by the fl ag, was one of the 85% who registered studies Latino voters. He thinks the far,” said Melissa Rodgers, the director Democratic Party or the GOP before the it’s not a problem to vote that morning, aided by a party’s use of anti-immigrant rhetoric of programmes at the Immigrant 2018 election. volunteer from the League of Women to mobilise non-college-educated white Legal Resource Center, which runs the Language can be a barrier, and “a lot Voters. He “defi nitely” plans to vote voters will come at a steep electoral coalition. of folks don’t watch the same channels,” US Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and in 2020, partly because he thinks the price. “This is a fi ve-alarm fi re.” Filing an application does not making people harder to reach through Bernie Sanders have struggled to explain how they would pay healthcare system should be fi xed, Some experts said the national necessarily lead to naturalisation; the media, said Harris County, Texas, for “Medicare for all.” but also: “I’m not a big fan of Donald climate reminded them of California the denial rate is usually about one judge Lina Hidalgo, who immigrated to This is puzzling. A single-payer approach like Medicare for Trump.” And he’s far from the only one. in the mid-1990s, when heightened in 10. Immigrant advocacy groups the US in 2005 after fl eeing Colombia all can reduce overall health spending. Other wealthy countries At ceremonies like these across the rhetoric against immigrants and the have complained that the Trump and who became a US citizen in 2013. that have universal coverage spend far less on healthcare than country, hundreds of thousands of Proposition 187 ballot measure to administration has allowed a backlog to Last year, the 28-year-old was among immigrants are expected to receive their prohibit services for some immigrants pile up, putting some applicants at risk the Democrats who swept Republicans the United States as a share of their gross domestic product. A US citizenship and become eligible to inspired a wave of eligible Latino of missing the 2020 election. out of power in the county, where lack of money is not the problem. That’s why it should not be vote before November 2020, gently immigrants to naturalise and register Latino and Asian immigrants are immigrants make up more than a diffi cult to devise a way to pay for Medicare for all to benefi t reshaping – and threatening – the to vote. particularly potent additions to the quarter of the population. the vast majority of us, particularly low- and middle-income electoral path that President Donald It helped transform the home of electorate, with turnout rates that Politicians need “to reach people earners. Trump must thread to win re-election. Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon are often fi ve to eight percentage where they are,” said Hidalgo, who Canada has such a system, which should cast doubt on Over the last two decades, into a nearly impenetrable Democratic points higher than their natural-born appeared at last month’s ceremony to all the naysayers who claim that it is impossible or ruinous. naturalised immigrants have grown into stronghold. counterparts, according to Census urge the new citizens to get involved in a force at the ballot box, with the US “Republicans did not learn their estimates. their communities and vote. Canada, with a single-payer system, spends half of what recently swearing in more than 700,000 lesson, and they have revived some A September survey by Univision, At the presidential level, naturalised we do on healthcare and gets better results. Britain, France, foreign-born US citizens each year. of that anti-Latino sentiment,” said conducted by the research fi rm Latino immigrants’ voting power is largely Australia and Japan, all with universal healthcare, also spend Naturalised citizens – who share the Democratic US Rep. Norma Torres, who Decisions, said 81% of naturalised diluted by the electoral college. New less than half of what we spend per capita and get better full legal rights of natural-born citizens, was born in Guatemala and naturalised Latino respondents disapproved of the citizens most commonly settle in results. except for the ability to become in 1996 so she could get more involved job Trump was doing as president; 12% Democratic bastions such as California Medicare for all is widely expected to cost about $3tn a year. president – cast more than 8% of the in politics. said they were committed to voting for and New York, where their votes are not The government – through Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and ballots in the 2018 midterm elections, The Trump campaign disagrees. Trump in the 2020 election, and 64% expected to aff ect the next presidential almost double their share in the 1996 “Democrats make a mistake when said they plan to vote for the eventual election. various other programmes – already pays more than $1.5tn of presidential contest, according to US they assume that all immigrants Democratic nominee. Along with Texas, Florida is a key this healthcare bill. Private insurance and out-of-pocket costs Census Bureau estimates. think the same way,” said campaign “A lot of folks are responding exception. The battleground state account for another roughly $1.5tn. Going to Medicare for all Surveys show that many of the new spokesman Tim Murtaugh. “Our own to the climate of fear and division adds between 70,000 and 100,000 would increase the budget of the government by about $1.5tn a citizens are liberal-leaning, which is data shows that a great many legal and general intimidation against naturalised citizens each year, with year. one of several demographic trends immigrants agree with President immigrant and refugee communities,” more than 20,000 born in communist Here are some ideas on helping put some historically red states Trump’s position on enforcing said Diego Iniguez-Lopez, the policy Cuba, a more conservative voter bloc how to fund it: such as Texas, Arizona and Georgia immigration laws, because they feel and campaigns manager at National that has helped Republicans maintain that if their families played by the rules, Partnership for New Americans, a Medicare for all is End the cap on payroll closer to Democrats’ reach. razor-thin majorities in the state. The gains in immigrants’ electoral then other people ought to as well.” coalition of immigrant advocacy Immigration is only one of several widely expected taxes and apply payroll strength have been gradual. But Murtaugh declined to share the data, groups. This year, the coalition forces reshaping the electoral map, such taxes to all income, Trump’s anti-immigration policies may but he said the numbers are why Trump launched a campaign to try to naturalise as rural areas’ swing toward the GOP to cost about $3tn including interest and be accelerating the trend by spurring made a recent visit to New Mexico – a 1mn new citizens in time for the 2020 and the suburbs’ moves towards the capital gains. This will not even more people to naturalise and state he lost to Hillary Clinton by more election. Democratic Party. a year have a signifi cant eff ect on anyone whose income is less than $132,900, the current cap, and will raise about $1.5tn. Those making somewhat above the current cap will end up paying a bit more, but they will not have to pay health insurance premiums or out-of-pocket medical expenses and will come out ahead. Oceans as an investment priority Large employers now pay on average $6,000 per employee for individual health insurance and $14,000 per employee for family health insurance. Many smaller employers pay similar By Emma Navarro countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. Oslo Finally, the EIB is a key fi nancier in rates, as do the self-employed. Let’s suppose that we tax all the Sustainable Ocean Fund, which is employers $5,000 per year per employee and relieve them of the raising $100mn to invest in as many as burden of providing employee insurance. Most come out way he Earth’s oceans face many 20 ocean projects in emerging markets ahead. This raises about $650bn. threats, none of which have to improve the whole seafood supply Elizabeth Warren’s proposal of a 2% wealth tax on wealth quick fi xes. Still, the solu- chain. over $50mn would raise another $250bn a year. Her proposed Ttions are known, and with a Some might wonder why the EIB is corporate tax on off -shore earnings would raise $100bn a year suffi ciently broad coalition of partners, pursuing development work outside we can get the ball rolling on a number Europe, or advocating for the world’s by requiring companies like Amazon to pay taxes on their of fronts. oceans. The reason is that we see worldwide income. A wide range of human activities – sustainability challenges as not just Finally, if Canada, spending less than half of US expenditures from burning fossil fuels to over-fi shing ecological, but economic. When a big on healthcare, has better health outcomes, that suggests there – have been degrading the oceans for institution like the EIB gets involved are savings to be had. Let’s be conservative. Suppose a Medicare years. By increasing the absorption in an issue, it can attract private for all system can help the US cut total health spending by 20%. of carbon dioxide, global warming is capital that would not have shown up That would save us $600bn – and still leave us with the highest acidifying the oceans and reducing otherwise. Encouraging innovative oxygen levels, harming or killing marine projects in the “blue” economy is not per person healthcare spending in the world. plants, animals, and other organisms. so much a question of more money. If we add all of these together, that would be more than $3tn And as the ice caps melt, rising sea It is also about lifting barriers to new in additional revenues or savings per year, well over the $1.5tn in levels are increasingly putting hundreds projects, and reducing investment additional government spending necessary to fund Medicare for all. of millions of people in coastal areas at risk. When our climate experts give None of this would increase the burden on the middle class risk. Some 90% of all the plastic arriving in the oceans from rivers comes from just 10 their stamp of approval to a project, or the poor. Indeed, without insurance premiums and out-of- Moreover, owing to a lack of countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. that catalyses more financing from pocket expenses, their overall costs would fall dramatically. And modern treatment plants in many private investors, pension funds, cities, especially in Africa and Asia, waste out of the waterways in the fi rst activity. Through our Blue Sustainable sovereign wealth funds, and insurance none of this puts an excessive burden on the rich. Corporations sewage is being dumped into rivers place. Ocean Strategy, Blue SOS, we will companies. And when such investors would reap huge savings. And all Americans would get and canals, where it eventually runs Saving the oceans should not be invest up to €2.5bn (around $2.8bn) see that they can profit from green healthcare, with enough left to invest in other health, wellness off into the oceans, introducing large an afterthought. More than 3bn over fi ve years, while mobilising at projects, the results benefit not just and education programmes. amounts of plastic particles and people depend on the oceans for least another €5bn for investments in the ocean, but also workers and Other ideas may be even more attractive. These simply toxins. The tonnes of trash dumped their livelihoods. Ocean and coastal projects to protect the ocean economy. consumers. demonstrate that we can have Medicare for all without ruining daily into streets, backyards, rivers, resources and industries contribute Among other things, these investments We need to show that climate the economy or raising taxes on middle- and low-income earners. beaches, and coastal areas also end up about $3tn per year (5% of world will address coastal erosion, help investments don’t have to be too risky, in the oceans. Many of these products, GDP) to the global economy and offer fi sheries process and preserve food, and we need to promote more public- Let’s do it. (Los Angeles Times) – Tribune News Service such as grocery bags and bottled- huge potential for further growth, make shipping more environmentally private partnerships. That’s why the water containers, contain hazardous job creation, and innovation. Oceans friendly, and improve research into EIB is increasing its technical assistance chemicals that are eaten by fish and are also a major source of renewable biotechnology products. and advisory services to make clean To Advertise then consumed by people, leading to a energy and natural resources. Their Moreover, in partnership with the and sustainable ocean projects more wide range of health issues. environmental value is huge. Oceans German and French development attractive for other investors. [email protected] Fixing these problems will require have taken up between 20-30% of banks, we have created the Clean Now, we are looking for more Display co-operation at all levels. It will also human-induced carbon dioxide Oceans Initiative, which recently partners. We need leaders, require new resources, and not just to emissions since the 1980s. They welcomed Spain’s development bank governments, businesses, and other 44466621 44418811 repair eroded coastlines and prepare produce over half of the world’s as a new partner. This joint initiative institutions to take the bold steps for rising seas and extreme weather. We oxygen, and transport heat from the is providing up to €2bn in fi nancing necessary to safeguard our oceans, clean Classified must crack down on illegal fi shing, fund equator to the poles, thus regulating over fi ve years for projects that collect up our rivers, and end the pollution 44466609 44418811 research, and develop lower-carbon our climate. plastics and other waste before it of these vulnerable ecosystems. The sea transportation and sustainable From our side, fostering a sustainable reaches the ocean. Most of the plastic urgency of the challenge cannot be Subscription seafood production. Moreover, we “blue” economy has been one of the that ends up in the oceans comes from overstated. We should protect the urgently need to devise better methods priorities of the European Investment trash discarded in coastal areas or oceans as if our future depended on it, [email protected] of plastic collection and forms of Bank. We have launched several near rivers by the 2bn people who lack because it does. – Project Syndicate reusable packaging, while improving initiatives to facilitate cooperation waste-collection services. In fact, some wastewater treatment and storm-water in cleaning up the oceans and 90% of all the plastic arriving in the zEmma Navarro is Vice President of © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved management to keep plastics and other safeguarding marine-based economic oceans from rivers comes from just 10 the European Investment Bank. Gulf Times Saturday, October 26, 2019 15 COMMENT Argentina creditors prepare for tough $100bn tango

By Marc Jones, Karin Strohecker, left-leaning Peronists, investors are Reuters reported on Thursday Rodrigo Campos and Gabriel Burin focused on how he can square lowering that a group of Argentina’s largest London/New York/Buenos Aires Argentina’s debt burden while also bondholders have begun forming investing to kick-start stalled growth a “creditor committee” to avoid and cutting poverty. being bounced into any painful debt n a Washington steak house, Fernandez has said that if elected writedowns and are willing to have a investors crammed around a table he would try to avoid creditor “constructive dialogue” with the new this month to listen to a key advis- losses through a “Uruguay-style” government. Ier to the presidential frontrunner restructuring, a voluntary debt “I think people recognise it is in Argentina, which is battling to avoid renegotiation by Argentina’s neighbour probably time to get organised and another debt default. in 2003 which is widely regarded as a there seems to be an acceptance to Guillermo Nielsen, economic positive model. work together,” said the person at the adviser to the Peronist opposition Reuters spoke with more than a venture capital fund, adding it was leader Alberto Fernandez, jokingly dozen global fund managers, investors important to make sure “nothing can told the nearly two dozen bankers, and distressed debt specialists with get forced on us”. debt specialists and fund managers at interest in Argentina, who voiced fears Alberto Bernal, Miami-based the dinner that his cut of US beef was of steep losses and uncertainty. chief emerging markets and global delicious. “(Fernandez) is talking about more strategist at XP Investments said a Argentina’s economy, he warned, fi scal breathing room, increasing tougher stance at the IMF was spurring was not in such great shape. wages, increasing pension spending. bondholders to organise. Fernandez is the strong favourite to It’s just not compatible,” said Edwin “There’s very strong interest among win tomorrow’s presidential election Gutierrez, London-based head of bondholders to get together and have a in Latin America’s third-largest emerging market sovereign debt at conversation because you need to get economy, where a market crash has Aberdeen Standard Investments. organised, because the IMF seems to drained reserves and pushed up the All eyes are on the potential make- be becoming very hawkish.” country’s borrowing costs. up of Fernandez’s fi nancial team. However, some investors think Once the poll is over, tough Investors said that while it was still Argentina’s former president and current vice-presidential candidate for the Frente de Todos party, Cristina Fernandez de Fernandez and his team will not want a negotiations are expected to begin not clearly defi ned, there were key Kirchner, delivers a speech as her running mate, presidential candidate Alberto Fernandez, flashes the v-sign during the repeat of the debt restructuring battles over $100bn in sovereign debt that has names being discussed. closing rally of their campaign in Mar del Plata, 400km south of Buenos Aires, ahead of tomorrow’s general election. of before. become painfully expensive for Buenos Two sources who attended the Robert Koenigsberger, managing Aires. recent meetings, including a Wall strategy in the 2001-02 default. led by Guido Sandleris, who studied at during talks with investors last week. partner and chief investment offi cer of “The underlying tone at the dinner Street investor, identifi ed Martin Nielsen developed a reputation the London School of Economics and Publicly, the IMF has said it specialist investment fund Gramercy, was very negative,” said a fund Redrado, Matias Kulfas and Cecilia among bondholders for giving them has a PhD from Columbia University. will evaluate its relationship with who was instrumental in talks between manager who attended but asked not Todesca, already key members of short-shrift, on one occasion ending a “I expect at least two of the three Argentina once it has clarity on debt creditors and Argentina in 2009, said to be named. Fernandez’s economic team, as meeting within 15 minutes even though top people will remain at the (central) sustainability in light of the next Fernandez appeared more moderate “(Nielsen) said that economically, possible picks to head the Treasury creditors had fl own in especially for it. bank, if not all (of them),” Abadi said. government’s policies. than previous Peronists. things looked very dark, that the forex ministry. “The market is terrifi ed of Nielsen Several investors said the And it is holding off approving a “I don’t think anyone in Alberto reserves are not going to be suffi cient A spokesman for Fernandez did not and quite comfortable with Redrado,” International Monetary Fund (IMF), $5.4bn tranche of funds under the Fernandez’s camp thinks that having a for very long, and net reserves would respond to a request for comment. said Carlos Abadi, managing which has lent Argentina $43.9bn existing programme. long drawn out battle with creditors is run out within four to fi ve months,” the Redrado and Kulfas did not respond director at fi nancial advisory fi rm from a $57bn deal struck last year, was Investors expect the IMF will not going to be a successful strategy.” fund manager said. to requests for comments, while DecisionBoundaries. pressuring others to take losses. resume a normal relationship with He said Argentina had a liquidity Nielsen did not respond to questions Reuters was unable to reach Todesca. Gutierrez at Aberdeen said he had “Now we are hearing them say Argentina unless there were clear signs rather than a more serious solvency about the meeting in e-mailed requests Several bankers said Redrado, a heard the same names, but added: “It there may have to be large principal the country would not totally abandon problem, and that the country’s from Reuters. former central bank chief, was Wall is like a football team: you know who’s haircuts,” a senior investor at a large fi nancial reforms. historically boom-and-bust economy With infl ation at more than 50% and Street’s favourite, while Nielsen going to be on the roster but you don’t hedge fund said, adding the IMF’s “Co-operation will only take place would likely pick up once more. the peso currency in free-fall, voters appeared more likely to take on a role know which positions they’re going to message was: “we are going to play if the macroeconomic plan guarantees “The market has this kind of feast or are forecast to oust business-friendly in Argentina’s budding energy sector. be playing in.” hardball.” that debt eventually goes back to a famine tango with Argentina that has Mauricio Macri, who many blame for Nielsen’s proximity to Fernandez Abadi and one of the people An IMF spokesman said that sustainable path with high probability been going on for many years,” he said. rising levels of poverty. is a red flag for some creditors who attended the meetings added neither Trevor Alleyne, the Fund’s in their assessment,” the Wall Street “We seem to be at the famine stage of With little known about Fernandez, given the former economy minister Fernandez would likely keep some of representative in Argentina, nor any investor said, adding that a major that cycle and that is typically where it who was unexpectedly selected by the and chief debt negotiator’s tough the expertise at the central bank, now other offi cer discussed a debt haircut restructuring was likely. makes most sense to invest.” – Reuters

Post-election blues hit Poland’s governing party Three-day forecast

TODAY to oust Prime Minister Mateusz unpaid leave of absence. TVP, controlled by former politician Maximum Temperature : 350c DPA Minimum Temperature : 290c Warsaw Morawiecki, but will have to make do However, that tone changed after Jacek Kurski, who turned the news with a deputy prime minister post for he refused to step down on Thursday channel into a tool for promoting PiS, SUNDAY its leader, Justice Minister Zbigniew (despite reportedly being ordered to has come up against criticism. Maximum Temperature : 350c week after general elections, Ziobro, Dudek said. do so by PiS) and made clear that he In a spring 2019 report, the Minimum Temperature : 290c in which Law and Justice PiS has also found itself on the intends to serve out his full, six-year, Council of the Polish Language, an MONDAY (PiS) secured Poland’s best defensive in recent days due to a constitutionally protected term in academic institution, stated that Maximum Temperature : 340c Aelectoral result since the scandal involving Marian Banas, offi ce. 75 per cent of news tickers in the Minimum Temperature : 280c the new head of the Supreme Audit “The Banas case demonstrated main news programme on public country returned to democracy in Fisherman's forecast 1989, the celebratory mood within the Chamber (NIK), whom it elected in that PiS is not invulnerable,” political television, analysed in 2016-17, governing party was wearing thin. August. scientist Jaroslaw Flis said. had a “persuasive” rather than WARNING The party may have lost the Senate “informative” function. Inshore : Thundery rain PiS won the parliamentary election Banas became a liability for the expected with strong on October 13 with 43.6% of the vote party after it emerged that he leased in the election, which was a symbolic TVP’s partisan approach may wind by afternoon and secured an outright majority in his tenement in Krakow to the stepson defeat, but more importantly, it have been counterproductive for Offshore : Nil the lower house, but lost control over of a convicted felon, who ran a hotel retained a majority in the lower house PiS by pushing away some moderate WEATHER Inshore : Misty at first becomes the Senate. at the property, renting rooms by the and enjoys record-high popular voters while also strengthening relatively hot daytime “We are observing thinly veiled hour. support, even if it had hoped for more Confederation, a more radical right- with local clouds and disappointment of party politicians Allegations also appeared that votes, Dudek said. wing party, according to Flis. chance of thundery rain at places by after- and leaders. They counted on 250-260 Banas may have dodged taxes and According to media reports, PiS may If PiS – which backed Kurski for the noon seats in the [460-strong] lower house, that irregularities were found in his still try to attract some senators from top media job – reaches the conclusion but ended up with 235,” political obligatory asset declarations. the other side of the aisle to join forces that he may threaten the re-election of Offshore : Misty at times with some clouds scientist Antoni Dudek said. Notably, Banas used to be fi nance with the party, potentially allowing President Andrzej Duda, Kurski’s days WIND Additionally, members of two minister under PiS and was the offi cial it to regain a majority in the upper at the helm of TVP may be numbered, Inshore : Southeasterly-Eeasterly smaller parties that ran on PiS responsible for making tax collection house. Flis said. 07-17/30 KT Offshore : Southeasterly-North- electoral lists strengthened their more effi cient. Separately, on Monday the party A loss for Duda in the presidential easterly 03-13 KT position, introducing 18 lawmakers He had been described by PiS petitioned the supreme court to re- ballot next spring would be the each, and may want that refl ected in politicians as a man of “crystal, count ballots in six constituencies beginning of the erosion of the Visibility : 4-8/3 KM the composition of the government. spotless” character. where PiS candidates narrowly lost out governing camp, Dudek believes. However, until then, the PiS party’s One of those parties, United Poland Prior to the election, PiS politicians on a Senate seat. Around the region (Solidarna Polska), even wanted defended Banas, who had taken an Meanwhile, the public broadcaster grip on power will likely remain stable. Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad M Sunny 29/18 P Cloudy 26/17 Kuwait City P Cloudy 32/23 S T Storms 29/22 Manama Sunny 34/28 Sunny 36/28 Muscat Sunny 34/26 Sunny 34/24 Live issues Tehran Showers 17/13 Showers 16/13 Nutrients to enhance immunity

By Barbara Quinn to maintain healthy cells so they can The Monterey County Herald resist unwelcome guests. Vitamin E generally resides in whole grains or fortifi ed cereals, seeds (such as sun- lu season is here again. And fl ower seeds), nuts and vegetable oils. this year’s vaccine is designed Zinc plays a powerful role in wound to protect against four diff er- healing and a strong immune system. Around the world Fent fl u viruses, says the Center Its most potent sources include lean Weather Weather for Disease Control (CDC). So when meats, poultry, seafood, milk, whole today Max/min tomorrow Max/min I went for my yearly poke in the arm, grains, beans, seeds and nuts. One Athens Sunny 27/15 Sunny 27/13 I was informed – by reason of my age caution with taking zinc supplements, Beirut Cloudy 26/22 M Sunny 26/21 – that I would receive the “high dose” however. While adequate amounts of Bangkok M Sunny 35/27 S T Storms 34/27 fl u vaccine – four times as potent as this mineral are essential for strong Berlin M Cloudy 19/13 Showers 15/06 the regular fl u shot. immunity, higher than recommended Cairo S Showers 26/19 P Cloudy 28/18 Guess that’s good. Our ability doses can actually weaken the body’s Cape Town Sunny 17/13 Rain 16/11 to fi ght off infections and viruses ability to fi ght off viruses and infec- Colombo S T Storms 28/24 T Storm 28/24 weakens as we age. So an extra boost tions. Dhaka T Storm 28/24 P Cloudy 29/22 of immunity can help fend off serious Besides yearly flu shots, our nutritional status is key to a strong immune system, Probiotics – the good bacteria we Hong Kong P Cloudy 26/22 M Sunny 26/22 complications. says the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. fi nd in cultured foods such as yoghurt Istanbul P Cloudy 19/14 P Cloudy 20/12 Besides yearly fl u shots, our nutri- and kefi r and also in supplements – are Jakarta M Sunny 34/25 S T Storms 33/24 tional status is key to a strong immune ghurt, cheese, soy foods, fi sh, poultry foods “fortifi ed with vitamin A” such making a name for themselves as im- Karachi Sunny 36/25 M Sunny 36/24 system, says the Academy of Nutri- and meat. High quality protein can as cereal or milk, says the AND. mune enhancers. Although research- London Rain 17/06 P Cloudy 12/03 tion and Dietetics (www.eatrigh.org). also be found in combinations of veg- Vitamin C is a major player on our ers still haven’t identifi ed all the spe- Manila P Cloudy 33/26 P Cloudy 33/26 These nutrients (in the right balance) etables, whole grains, beans and nuts. immunity team. It stimulates the cifi c strains of healthful bacteria that Moscow Cloudy 13/09 Cloudy 14/06 are vital immunity enhancers: Vitamin A strengthens and regulates formation of antibodies that bind up work together to enhance our immune New Delhi Sunny 31/18 Sunny 32/18 Protein is the backbone of our one of the most important immune dangerous toxins before they wreck system, we do know that various types New York M Cloudy 18/14 Rain 21/15 body’s defence mechanism since organs of the body – the skin. And that havoc in our bodies. Since our bodies of dietary fi bre are needed to “feed” Paris P Cloudy 20/12 Rain 13/07 antibodies and other immune cells are includes our digestive tract and lungs. don’t store much vitamin C, we need these benefi cial bacteria in our guts. Sao Paulo P Cloudy 27/18 M Sunny 32/20 made of protein. We don’t need to eat Think bright orange, reds and greens foods rich in this vitamin daily. Good That means, during this fl u season and Seoul P Cloudy 15/03 Sunny 18/07 like cavemen to get adequate amounts, when you’re looking for vitamin sources include oranges, grapefruit, year-round, we can add an extra boost Singapore T Storm 30/26 T Storm 30/26 however. Many experts recommend A-containing foods: sweet potatoes, tangerines, strawberries, papayas, red of immunity with high fi bre foods Sydney Cloudy 29/24 Sunny 21/14 we eat a protein-containing food with carrots, kale, spinach, red peppers, peppers, and tomatoes. such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains, Tokyo Clear 24/14 Cloudy 21/16 each meal including eggs, milk, yo- apricots and eggs (yolk). Also look for Vitamin E works with vitamin C beans and nuts. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, October 26, 2019 QATAR 20 Qatari companies to participate in Italy’s top-notch cosmetics event

By Peter Alagos Scheduled to “This situation led to higher sales Business Reporter for specifi c products with natural take place in ingredients, to mitigate harmful March next eff ects of pollution, sun, dust, es- s many as 20 Qatari com- pecially in the high temperature panies will be participat- year, 20 Qatari and dry environs in Qatar. Aing in Cosmoprof World- companies will “Today, the most popular wide Bologna slated in March products include make-up and 2020 — Qatar’s largest delegation be taking part colour, ethnic products, specifi c yet to join the annual cosmetics in Cosmoprof for the hue and characteristics event in Italy, said Giosafat Riga- of the skin of the Middle Eastern no, the commissioner of the Ital- Worldwide populations, and Halal cosmetic ian Trade Agency (ITA), in Doha Bologna, says products, therefore considered yesterday. legitimate for Islamic religion,” Speaking to Gulf Times, Rigano Italian Trade said Cosmoprof. said, “The presence of a large The statement added: “Along- Qatari delegation at Cosmoprof Agency side local productions, luxury signifi es the robust ties between brands play the most important Qatar and Italy in many fi elds, ty sector. Gianpiero Calzolari, role and obtain the highest prof- and in this particular case, the president of BolognaFiere Group, its within the luxury shopping cosmetics industry.” said: “Every year, Cosmoprof malls of the capital. Qatar off ers “And because of this relation- Worldwide Bologna hosts com- important business opportuni- ship, Cosmoprof Worldwide panies and operators from over (From left) Mattia Miglio, International Marketing Manager of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof; Aldo Coppola Qatar business partner Zhan ties for many cosmetic compa- Bologna, the B2B leading event 150 countries in the world. The Temerkhanov; Carlotta Colli, deputy head of mission at the Italian embassy in Doha; Abu Issa Holding chairman Ashraf Abu Issa; Enrico Zannini, nies, involved in the interna- for the cosmetics industry, has event is an important showcase general director of BolognaFiere Cosmoprof; and Italian Trade Agency commissioner Giosafat Rigano during Cosmoprof’s presentation at the tional community of Cosmoprof chosen Qatar as the kick-off for for fast-developing markets, and Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Worldwide Bologna. scouting and business activities the Gulf area certainly represents “The meeting in Doha lays the in the region,” Rigano continued. an interesting opportunity for and beauty sector. view of the cosmetics industry in ment rate of the female population are called upon to look after their foundations for new collaborations He said the Cosmoprof network beauty companies. “Italy is a worldwide leader Qatar, while Carlotta Colli, dep- was an important factor for eco- image in work activities outside and new developments, for the led by Enrico Zannini, general “In particular, Qatar is a coun- in the cosmetic industry thanks uty head of mission at the Italian nomic growth. Nowadays, women their home,” Cosmoprof said. growth of the entire beauty sector.” director of BolognaFiere Cosmo- try with high GDP per capita: the to its continuous research and Embassy in Doha, underscored prof, and Mattia Miglio, Interna- presence of local brands, import- developing expertise in the fi eld the strengthening ties between tional Marketing Manager of Bo- ers, distributors, and retailers at presented yearly in Cosmoprof Qatar and Italy and the opportu- 16th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition gets underway lognaFiere Cosmoprof, delivered Cosmoprof is certainly a strong Worldwide Bologna 2020, the nities for further growth in both a presentation yesterday at the attraction for many international top level Italian beauty trade. The countries’ various sectors. From Page 1 Held annually, the ladies-only event high- Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition operators.” presentation by Cosmoprof in In a statement, Cosmoprof lights the largest display of Arabian designers to meet companies, associations, He added: “It is therefore impor- the context of Heya will help in said many important factors have This edition of Heya will also showcase haute to date. Children below the age of the 13 cannot distributors, retailers and key tant for Cosmoprof to strengthen bridging Italian and local opera- contributed to the development couture modest fashion from 11 diff erent coun- enter the exhibition. players in the cosmetics indus- the synergies with local productive tors in the growing sector of cos- of the cosmetic market in Qatar. tries, representing four continents, includ- With more than 250 brands of abayas and try, to promote the initiatives of associations and districts, to con- metics industry.” According to Among these, the high purchas- ing Kuwait and Oman, as well as India, Turkey, modest fashion designs, the event off ers visitors the next edition, scheduled from tribute to the development of the Rigano, the Heya Exhibition rep- ing power of the population, Lebanon, Morocco, China, Indonesia, Italy and an array of unique collections, from high-street March 12 to 16, 2020 in Bologna. global cosmetic market.” resents a special opportunity to which favoured luxury malls with Georgia. apparel, couture and luxury, to the latest mod- The presentations are part of Italian ambassador Pasquale promote once again the relevance premium and high-end perfum- “We are proud to have more than 250 brands est evening gowns, leather accessories, as well as the Cosmoprof roadshow pro- Salzano said, “The Heya exhibi- of the Italian cosmetic industry ery brands, against the develop- participate this year, with many returning ones perfumery and make-up. gramme, in collaboration with tion has become an increasingly in a fl ourishing market like Qatar. ment of mass market brands, exemplifying what Heya stands for; a space for Partners of this edition of Heya include Mai- Cosmetica Italia, Italian Personal dynamic and interesting platform During the presentation, Abu which are still very weak today. In industry experts, leaders and entrepreneurs to son de Joelle, W Doha, Tajmeel Academy, Inter- Care Association, highlighting in the Gulf region and we are proud Issa Holding chairman Ashraf recent years, the growth of inter- collaborate and come together under one roof continental Doha the City, VCUArts Qatar, Bi- the role of Cosmoprof, a format that this edition will host prestig- Abu Issa and Aldo Coppola Qa- national tourism has strength- helping each other evolve,” Esraa Abel, spokes- oskin Spa, Qatar Red Crescent, Primary Health born in Italy 53 years ago, as a ref- ious and exclusive ‘Made in Italy’ tar business partner Zhan Te- ened this sales trend, as well. person for Design Creationz, said. Care Corporation, Idam, Henks, and Kaafe. erence event for the global beau- brands, including in the cosmetic merkhanov shared their over- “The increase in the employ- Asian medical camp benefi ts scores of low-income workers

By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter

bout 2,500 low-income group Asian expatriates Awere provided with free health check-up and healthcare awareness activities yesterday at the 17th Asian Medical Camp or- ganised by the Centre for Indian Community (CIC) and Indian Doctors Club (IDC) at Thumama Health Centre. Indian ambassador P Kumaran inaugurated the camp along with visiting Indian Member of Par- liament (MP), Benny Behanan, the chief guest on the occasion. While appreciating the ef- Indian ambassador P Kumaran and Indian Parliament member Benny Behanan along with other dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony to forts of the organisers in provid- A large number of low-income workers attended the camp. open the medical camp. PICTURES: Ram Chand ing therapeutic assistance to the workers, the Indian envoy also ings in case of any health issues,” others also walked in to make use and appreciated the eff orts of eral Hospital, Hamad Medical orthopaedics, cardiology, ENT, anadhan talked about ‘Heart at- highlighted the importance of noted, Kumaran at the inaugural of the facilities at the camp. everyone involved in the camp Corporation (HMC); Dr Samia ophthalmology and physiothera- tack: Preventive Measures’ and giving more health awareness ceremony. Behanan said that the Asian from its inception. al-Abdulla, executive director py. Other services included test- Dr Sreekumar Padmanabhan to the attendees so that many of He also appealed to the camp Medical Camp is a proof of the Dr Mohamed al-Hajri, direc- of operations at Primary Health ing blood sugar, hypertension, held a lecture on ‘Occupational the diseases can be prevented or organisers to follow up with the commitment of the Indian com- tor of the Emergency Prepared- Care Corporation ( PHCC); Dr cholesterol, ECG, ultrasound Diseases and their Prevention’. controlled. workers especially with those munity in providing healthcare ness and Response Department, Hanadi al-Hail, director, Al Thu- scanning, urine tests, audiomet- The camp was organised with “It is great to see the support who were identifi ed with certain services to the needy and prom- Ministry of Public Health, rep- mama Health Centre; Joel Jacob, ric and oral check-up. the support of HMC and PHCC, provided to the workers by this diseases. ised that such eff orts will be resenting the minister of public president of Indian Doctors Club In addition, there were also sponsored by Ooredoo. Qatar medical camp year after year Large number of workers from brought to the attention of the health appreciated the camp and and P N Baburajan, president, In- opportunities for registering for Red Crescent Society, Indian not only for the Indian commu- India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangla- authorities in India as well as in the eff orts by the entire team dian Community Benevolent Fo- blood donation as well as for or- Physiotherapy Forum, United nity but also for those from other desh and Pakistan had arrived at the parliament. and extended the wholehearted rum also spoke on the occasion. gan donation. Nurses India Qatar, Kerala Phar- Asian countries. the venue right from the morning CIC president, KC Abdulla- support of the ministry for the More than 100 doctors and There were diff erent aware- macists Forum Qatar, Al Jabir More health awareness will and received large-scale services tif presided over the function. He camp. paramedics attended the camp ness sessions to educate the par- Opticals, Qatar Institute for help the workers to take care of at the camp. In addition to the briefed the audience about the Dr Yousuf al-Musalmani, providing various services which ticipants about several important Speech and Hearing also sup- their health and get early warn- pre-registered patients, several milestones in the past 16 years medical director, Hamad Gen- included specialised services in healthcare topics. Dr Dilu Visu- ported the camp.

Cleaning campaign

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment’s General Cleanness Department has conducted a comprehensive cleaning campaign of Al Asshat Island, it was announced yesterday.